The Priory School is a mainstream secondary school with resourced provision in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. Its specialist base has 20 places for speech, language and communication and autism.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,221 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
School details
- Type
- Mainstream school with resourced provision
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Specialist base
- Resourced provision, 20 places, 20 pupils
- Pupils
- 1,221
- Headteacher
- Mr Matt Blayney (Headteacher)
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 117499
Needs its base supports
3 needs: speech and language, autism and 1 more
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Communication and interaction
- Autism Other schools for this in Hertfordshire (25)
- Speech, language and communication Other schools for this in Hertfordshire (21)
It also lists other needs. Ask the school what these are.
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision are usually for children with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask about the base
See the school and its specialist base, and ask how children split their time between the base and mainstream classes.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Hertfordshire council) that you want this school and its base, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school, so ask how they decide.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Good, March 2013; school remains Good (October 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 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, October 2022).
Contact and getting there
Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- North Herts Education Support Centre Alternative provision · Ages 5–16 1.8 miles
- Lordship Farm Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.5 miles
- Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.5 miles
All SEND schools in Hertfordshire
By need in Hertfordshire: Autism (26) · Speech and language (22) · SEMH (10) · Moderate learning (10) · Severe learning (9) · PMLD (5) · Physical (4) · Hearing (3) · Multi-sensory (3)
Questions about The Priory School
How do I get a place in The Priory School’s specialist base?
Places in an SEN unit or resourced provision usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult the school about its base. If the school is named in the plan it must admit your child; places in the base itself are agreed between the council and the school.
What needs does The Priory School support?
Speech, language and communication and autism. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does The Priory School take?
Aged 11 to 18, boys and girls.
What is The Priory School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Good by Ofsted in October 2022 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is The Priory School?
Bedford Road, Hitchin, SG5 2UR, in Hertfordshire.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.