Carr Hill High School is a mainstream secondary school in Preston, Lancashire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 104 of its 790 pupils (13.2%) were getting SEN support and 28 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 790 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Lancashire.
13.2% get SEN support
104 of 790 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
28 of 790 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia27
- Speech, language and communication26
- Social, emotional and mental health23
- Moderate learning difficulty17
- Autism9
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 790 (places for 899)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ben Layzell
- Part of
- Education Partnership Trust
- Free school meals
- 26.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Lancashire
- School reference (URN)
- 150966
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Lancashire council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Requires improvement, March 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in March 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Royal Avenue, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2ST
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Kirkham Pear Tree School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Linton School Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.0 mile
- Ashton Community Science College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 5.0 miles
- Clifton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Kirkham St Michael's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 16.6%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
- The Willows Catholic Primary School, Kirkham Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 0% 0.7 miles
- Kirkham and Wesham Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.7%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Lancashire SEND schools in Lancashire
Questions about Carr Hill High School
How many pupils at Carr Hill High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 104 of the 790 pupils (13.2%) were getting SEN support and 28 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Carr Hill High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (27 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (26 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Carr Hill High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Carr Hill High School?
Through Lancashire council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Carr Hill High School?
You can ask for Carr Hill High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Carr Hill High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Ashton Community Science College, about 5.0 miles away.
Where is Carr Hill High School?
Royal Avenue, Kirkham, Preston, PR4 2ST, in Lancashire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.