John Hellins Primary School is a mainstream primary school in Towcester, West Northamptonshire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 16 of its 202 pupils (7.9%) were getting SEN support and 9 (4.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 202 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in West Northamptonshire.
7.9% get SEN support
16 of 202 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.5% have an EHC plan
9 of 202 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health6
- Autism5
- 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 primary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 202 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Jodie Matthews
- Free school meals
- 7.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Northamptonshire
- School reference (URN)
- 121851
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 West Northamptonshire 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
Graded by area, April 2025; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (May 2022)
Inspected in April 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, May 2022).
Contact and getting there
Brownswood Drive, Potterspury, Towcester, NN12 7PG
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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
- Cambian Potterspury Lodge School Independent · Ages 8–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.2 miles
- Slated Row School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.1 miles
- The Radcliffe School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 3.4 miles
- New Bradwell Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Yardley Gobion Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 3.4% 1.0 mile
- Old Stratford Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.7%, EHC plans 1.2% 1.8 miles
- Cosgrove Village Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 51.3%, EHC plans 7.7% 2.1 miles
All mainstream schools in West Northamptonshire SEND schools in West Northamptonshire
Questions about John Hellins Primary School
How many pupils at John Hellins Primary School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 16 of the 202 pupils (7.9%) were getting SEN support and 9 (4.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at John Hellins Primary School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (6 pupils), autism (5 pupils) and physical disabilities (5 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at John Hellins Primary 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 John Hellins Primary School?
Through West Northamptonshire 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 John Hellins Primary School?
You can ask for John Hellins Primary 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 John Hellins Primary 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 The Radcliffe School, about 3.4 miles away.
Where is John Hellins Primary School?
Brownswood Drive, Potterspury, Towcester, NN12 7PG, in West Northamptonshire.
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.