Aylsham High School is a mainstream secondary school in Norwich, Norfolk, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 173 of its 1,138 pupils (15.2%) were getting SEN support and 54 (4.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,138 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Norfolk.
15.2% get SEN support
173 of 1,138 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.7% have an EHC plan
54 of 1,138 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 health105
- Autism41
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia31
- Moderate learning difficulty30
- Speech, language and communication9
- Physical disability9
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,138 (places for 1,025)
- Headteacher
- Mr Duncan Spalding
- Part of
- The Aylsham Cluster Trust
- Free school meals
- 19.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Norfolk
- School reference (URN)
- 121164
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 Norfolk 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, October 2014; school remains Good (January 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2024).
Contact and getting there
Sir Williams Lane, Aylsham, Norwich, NR11 6AN
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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
- Millfield Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.2 miles
- North Walsham High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 5.9 miles
- St Andrew's School Independent · Ages 6–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 8.7 miles
- Sidestrand Hall School Special school · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 8.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Michael's Church of England VA Primary and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 9.4% 0.4 miles
- Bure Valley School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 28.4%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.6 miles
- John of Gaunt Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 20.6%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.6 miles
Questions about Aylsham High School
How many pupils at Aylsham High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 173 of the 1,138 pupils (15.2%) were getting SEN support and 54 (4.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Aylsham 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 (105 pupils), autism (41 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Aylsham 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 Aylsham High School?
Through Norfolk 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 Aylsham High School?
You can ask for Aylsham 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 Aylsham 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 Millfield Primary School, about 5.2 miles away.
Where is Aylsham High School?
Sir Williams Lane, Aylsham, Norwich, NR11 6AN, in Norfolk.
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.