Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School is a mainstream primary school in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 21 of its 76 pupils (27.6%) were getting SEN support and 3 (3.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 76 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Oxfordshire.
27.6% get SEN support
21 of 76 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.9% have an EHC plan
3 of 76 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication7
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
- Voluntary controlled school
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 76 (places for 105)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Kayleigh Forbes
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 6.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Oxfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 123129
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 Oxfordshire 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, December 2015; some aspects not as strong (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Early yearsGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Some aspects not as strong (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Queen Street, Dorchester, Wallingford, OX10 7HR
Loading the map…
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
- Kingfisher School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.9 miles
- Rush Common School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 5.0 miles
- Orion Academy Special school · Ages 10–18 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 5.4 miles
- Fitzharrys School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 5.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Abbey Woods Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 25.4%, EHC plans 11.6% 1.2 miles
- St Laurence Church of England School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.7%, EHC plans 6.7% 1.4 miles
- Long Wittenham (Church of England) Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.6%, EHC plans 9.1% 1.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Oxfordshire SEND schools in Oxfordshire
Questions about Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School
How many pupils at Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 21 of the 76 pupils (27.6%) were getting SEN support and 3 (3.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (7 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Dorchester St Birinus Church of England 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 Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School?
Through Oxfordshire 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 Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School?
You can ask for Dorchester St Birinus Church of England 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 Dorchester St Birinus Church of England 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 Rush Common School, about 5.0 miles away.
Where is Dorchester St Birinus Church of England School?
Queen Street, Dorchester, Wallingford, OX10 7HR, in Oxfordshire.
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.