Leighton Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 61 of its 597 pupils (10.2%) were getting SEN support and 27 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 597 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Central Bedfordshire.
10.2% get SEN support
61 of 597 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
27 of 597 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 health28
- Moderate learning difficulty20
- Speech, language and communication14
- Autism11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia10
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 middle school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 597 (places for 600)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Claire Vallance
- Free school meals
- 11.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 109689
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 Central Bedfordshire 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, December 2013; school remains Good (May 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, May 2024).
Contact and getting there
Church Square, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EX
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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
- Benjamin College Independent · Ages 12–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- The Rushmere Park Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.6 miles
- Brooklands Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Oak Bank School Special school · Ages 9–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Pulford CofE VA Lower School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 9.3%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.1 miles
- The Mary Bassett Lower School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 7.1%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.2 miles
- Linslade Lower School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 2.2%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Central Bedfordshire SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
Questions about Leighton Middle School
How many pupils at Leighton Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 61 of the 597 pupils (10.2%) were getting SEN support and 27 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Leighton Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (28 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (20 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Leighton Middle 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 Leighton Middle School?
Through Central Bedfordshire 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 Leighton Middle School?
You can ask for Leighton Middle 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 Leighton Middle 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 The Rushmere Park Academy, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Leighton Middle School?
Church Square, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1EX, in Central Bedfordshire.
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.