Barnwell School is a mainstream secondary school in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 217 of its 1,270 pupils (17.1%) were getting SEN support and 70 (5.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,270 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
17.1% get SEN support
217 of 1,270 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.5% have an EHC plan
70 of 1,270 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 health82
- Autism48
- Moderate learning difficulty42
- Speech, language and communication34
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia31
- Hearing impairment7
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
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,270 (places for 1,590)
- Headteacher
- Miss Maria Townsend
- Free school meals
- 31.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 117518
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 Hertfordshire 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
Report card, January 2026: Expected standard in 4 of 7 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementNeeds attention
- Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SW
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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
- Greenside School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.1 miles
- Peartree Spring Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Featherstone Wood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- The Valley School Special school · Ages 11–16 0.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Longmeadow Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.4%, EHC plans 7% 0.4 miles
- Shephalbury Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.1%, EHC plans 5.3% 0.5 miles
- Roebuck Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.2%, EHC plans 6.2% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Barnwell School
How many pupils at Barnwell School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 217 of the 1,270 pupils (17.1%) were getting SEN support and 70 (5.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Barnwell School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (82 pupils), autism (48 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Barnwell 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 Barnwell School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Barnwell School?
You can ask for Barnwell 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 Barnwell 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 Peartree Spring Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is Barnwell School?
Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SW, in Hertfordshire.
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.