St John's CofE Academy is a mainstream primary school in Sandbach, Cheshire East, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 13 of its 154 pupils (8.4%) were getting SEN support and 10 (6.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 154 pupils
- Ofsted: Inadequate
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Cheshire East.
8.4% get SEN support
13 of 154 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
6.5% have an EHC plan
10 of 154 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication8
- Moderate learning difficulty6
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.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 154 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ricky Huddart
- Part of
- North West Academies Trust Limited
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 18.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cheshire East
- School reference (URN)
- 151487
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
Special measures. Rated Inadequate, September 2023
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Rated Inadequate at its last graded inspection, in September 2023.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesInadequate
- Personal developmentInadequate
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Early yearsRequires improvement
- SafeguardingNot effective
Contact and getting there
Heath Road, Sandbach, CW11 2LE
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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
- Cheshire Hall School Independent · Ages 8–16 1.0 mile
- Wonder Star School Independent · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.3 miles
- Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.8 miles
- Hermitage Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Offley Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.9 miles
- Sandbach Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16.8%, EHC plans 10.7% 1.0 mile
- Sandbach School Secondary · Ages 11–19 · SEN support 14.9%, EHC plans 3.7% 1.1 miles
All mainstream schools in Cheshire East SEND schools in Cheshire East
Questions about St John's CofE Academy
How many pupils at St John's CofE Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 13 of the 154 pupils (8.4%) were getting SEN support and 10 (6.5%) 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 John's CofE Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (8 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St John's CofE 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 John's CofE 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 John's CofE Academy?
You can ask for St John's CofE 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 John's CofE 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 Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, about 3.8 miles away.
Where is St John's CofE Academy?
Heath Road, Sandbach, CW11 2LE, 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.