The Westgate School is an all-through mainstream school in Winchester, Hampshire, for children and young people aged 4 to 16. In January 2026, 155 of its 1,649 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 88 (5.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–16
- 1,649 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hampshire.
9.4% get SEN support
155 of 1,649 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
5.3% have an EHC plan
88 of 1,649 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 health62
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia58
- Autism41
- Speech, language and communication28
- Moderate learning difficulty22
- Physical disability5
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 all-through school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 4 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,649 (places for 1,620)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Fae Dean
- Free school meals
- 10.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hampshire
- School reference (URN)
- 116407
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 Hampshire 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 Outstanding, November 2023; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (September 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, September 2022).
Contact and getting there
Cheriton Road, Winchester, SO22 5AZ
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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
- Lanterns Nursery School and Extended Services Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Osborne School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Henry Beaufort School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Shepherds Down Special School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Western Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.6%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.2 miles
- Weeke Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.4%, EHC plans 2% 0.5 miles
- St Bede Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.3%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in Hampshire SEND schools in Hampshire
Questions about The Westgate School
How many pupils at The Westgate School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 155 of the 1,649 pupils (9.4%) were getting SEN support and 88 (5.3%) 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 Westgate School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (62 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (58 pupils) and autism (41 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Westgate 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 Westgate School?
Through Hampshire 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 Westgate School?
You can ask for The Westgate 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 Westgate 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 Lanterns Nursery School and Extended Services, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is The Westgate School?
Cheriton Road, Winchester, SO22 5AZ, in Hampshire.
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.