Tanbridge House School is a mainstream secondary school in Horsham, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 279 of its 1,510 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,510 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
18.5% get SEN support
279 of 1,510 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
37 of 1,510 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia133
- Social, emotional and mental health78
- Speech, language and communication74
- Autism20
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
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,510 (places for 1,500)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Sheridan
- Free school meals
- 9.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 126064
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 Sussex 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, June 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Farthings Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, RH12 1SR
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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
- Aurora Vincent House School Independent · Ages 5–19 1.1 miles
- New Barn School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Horsham Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–5 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
- Thomas Bennett Community College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 7.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Shelley Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.5 miles
- St John's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.8%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.5 miles
- Arunside School, Horsham Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.1%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about Tanbridge House School
How many pupils at Tanbridge House School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 279 of the 1,510 pupils (18.5%) were getting SEN support and 37 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Tanbridge House School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (133 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (78 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (74 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Tanbridge House 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 Tanbridge House School?
Through West Sussex 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 Tanbridge House School?
You can ask for Tanbridge House 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 Tanbridge House 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 Horsham Nursery School, about 1.7 miles away.
Where is Tanbridge House School?
Farthings Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham, RH12 1SR, in West Sussex.
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.