Oathall Community College is a mainstream secondary school in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 295 of its 1,341 pupils (22%) were getting SEN support and 45 (3.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,341 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
22% get SEN support
295 of 1,341 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.4% have an EHC plan
45 of 1,341 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia97
- Autism74
- Social, emotional and mental health58
- Moderate learning difficulty45
- Speech, language and communication22
- 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 secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,341 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Mr Toby Houghton
- Free school meals
- 14.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 126085
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 Good, October 2013; school remains Good (September 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2013. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, September 2023).
Contact and getting there
Appledore Gardens, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2AQ
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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
- Warden Park Secondary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.8 miles
- Central Education Ltd Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.5 miles
- Chailey Heritage School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 3.6 miles
- London Meed Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Blackthorns Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.4%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.2 miles
- Lindfield Primary Academy Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 12.7%, EHC plans 2% 0.4 miles
- Warden Park Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.5%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about Oathall Community College
How many pupils at Oathall Community College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 295 of the 1,341 pupils (22%) were getting SEN support and 45 (3.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Oathall Community College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (97 pupils), autism (74 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (58 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Oathall Community College?
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 Oathall Community College?
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 Oathall Community College?
You can ask for Oathall Community College 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 Oathall Community College 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 Warden Park Secondary Academy, about 1.8 miles away.
Where is Oathall Community College?
Appledore Gardens, Lindfield, Haywards Heath, RH16 2AQ, 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.