The Blandford School is a mainstream secondary school in Blandford Forum, Dorset, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 82 of its 1,103 pupils (7.4%) were getting SEN support and 38 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,103 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Dorset.
7.4% get SEN support
82 of 1,103 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
38 of 1,103 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism43
- Social, emotional and mental health31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia28
- Speech, language and communication5
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
- Voluntary controlled school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,103 (places for 1,557)
- Headteacher
- Mr Alan Jones
- Free school meals
- 21.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 113888
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 Dorset 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, April 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in April 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ
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
- The Forum School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 4.6 miles
- The Luccombe Hub Independent · Ages 8–18 5.3 miles
- Broadstone First School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–9 · Ofsted: Good 10 miles
- Broadstone Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted: Good 11 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Milldown CofE Academy Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.1 miles
- Archbishop Wake Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 0–11 · SEN support 20.2%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.8 miles
- Blandford St Mary Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 3.8% 1.0 mile
Questions about The Blandford School
How many pupils at The Blandford School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 82 of the 1,103 pupils (7.4%) were getting SEN support and 38 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Blandford School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (43 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (31 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (28 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Blandford 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 The Blandford School?
Through Dorset 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 The Blandford School?
You can ask for The Blandford 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 The Blandford 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 Broadstone First School, about 10 miles away.
Where is The Blandford School?
Milldown Road, Blandford Forum, DT11 7SQ, in Dorset.
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.