St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a mainstream primary school in Wilmslow, Cheshire East, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 28 of its 202 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (7.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 202 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Cheshire East.
13.9% get SEN support
28 of 202 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
7.4% have an EHC plan
15 of 202 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health11
- Speech, language and communication8
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia8
- Moderate learning difficulty7
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 202 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Hannah McGuire
- Part of
- Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Academy Trust
- Faith
- Catholic
- Free school meals
- 24.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire East
- School reference (URN)
- 151267
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 Cheshire East 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 Good, October 2011; school remains Good (February 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2011. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- Early yearsGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2022).
Contact and getting there
Hall Road, Handforth, Wilmslow, SK9 3AE
Loading the map…
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
- Handforth Grange Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Aurora Summerfields School Independent · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Willow House School Independent · Ages 5–14 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.9 miles
- Thorn Grove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Wilmslow Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.7%, EHC plans 5.4% 0.6 miles
- St James' Catholic High School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 9.3%, EHC plans 4.2% 1.0 mile
- Outwood Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.9%, EHC plans 7.9% 1.2 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire East SEND schools in Cheshire East
Questions about St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
How many pupils at St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 28 of the 202 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (7.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (11 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (8 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (8 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
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 St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Through Cheshire East 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 St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
You can ask for St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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 St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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 Handforth Grange Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is St. Benedict's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Hall Road, Handforth, Wilmslow, SK9 3AE, in Cheshire East.
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.