Evaluation of SEND First: Final report for the City of London Corporation

This report presents the findings of an evaluation of the SEND First approach taken up in The City Academy, Hackney, a secondary school that is part of the City Family of schools. The City of London Corporation commissioned us to undertake the evaluation to understand the views of students, parents and staff in relation to the SEND approach implemented in the school. The City Academy, Hackney, is a mixed, secular secondary school serving the local community. The school has a high proportion of disadvantaged students (approximately 60% of the student population) and an uneven gender split (approximately 60:40 boys: girls). The Academy has higher than-average numbers of students with SEND. 5% of the student population have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) and 20% of the student population are in the SEND support category. Over the last three years, the academy has sought to meet the needs of SEND students through the SEND First approach.