The Bishop's Stortford High School is a mainstream secondary school in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, for boys aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 125 of its 1,279 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,279 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
9.8% get SEN support
125 of 1,279 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.6% have an EHC plan
21 of 1,279 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health45
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia42
- Autism22
- Speech, language and communication9
- Moderate learning difficulty9
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 only
- Pupils
- 1,279 (places for 1,211)
- Headteacher
- Mr Dale Reeve
- Free school meals
- 7.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 117577
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
Rated Outstanding, March 2017; school remains Outstanding (May 2023)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, May 2023).
Contact and getting there
Beaumont Avenue, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 4SH
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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
- White Trees Independent School Independent · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Avanti Brook Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 2.2 miles
- Avanti Grange Secondary School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 2.4 miles
- St Elizabeth's School Special school · Ages 5–19 · Ofsted: Good 3.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Richard Whittington Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.5%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.4 miles
- Thorley Hill Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 3.5% 0.6 miles
- Manor Fields Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.1%, EHC plans 3.8% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about The Bishop's Stortford High School
How many pupils at The Bishop's Stortford High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 125 of the 1,279 pupils (9.8%) were getting SEN support and 21 (1.6%) 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 Bishop's Stortford High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (45 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (42 pupils) and autism (22 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Bishop's Stortford High 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 Bishop's Stortford High 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 The Bishop's Stortford High School?
You can ask for The Bishop's Stortford High 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 Bishop's Stortford High 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 Avanti Brook Primary School, about 2.2 miles away.
Where is The Bishop's Stortford High School?
Beaumont Avenue, Bishop's Stortford, CM23 4SH, 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.