Debden Park High School is a mainstream secondary school in Loughton, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 200 of its 1,046 pupils (19.1%) were getting SEN support and 34 (3.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,046 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
19.1% get SEN support
200 of 1,046 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.3% have an EHC plan
34 of 1,046 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 health116
- Moderate learning difficulty37
- Autism33
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia21
- Speech, language and communication10
- Physical disability10
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,046 (places for 1,120)
- Headteacher
- Dr Andrew Hogan (Head of School)
- Part of
- The Kemnal Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 19.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 136555
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 Essex 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, March 2025; school remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (October 2023)
Inspected in March 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Willingale Road, Debden, Loughton, IG10 2BQ
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
- Oak View School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Woodcroft School Independent · Ages 5–13 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.2 miles
- The Alderton Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Lambourne Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 20.1%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.2 miles
- Thomas Willingale Primary School and Nursery Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 22.6%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.4 miles
- Hereward Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.6%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
Questions about Debden Park High School
How many pupils at Debden Park High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 200 of the 1,046 pupils (19.1%) were getting SEN support and 34 (3.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Debden Park 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 (116 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (37 pupils) and autism (33 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Debden Park 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 Debden Park High School?
Through Essex 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 Debden Park High School?
You can ask for Debden Park 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 Debden Park 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 The Alderton Junior School, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is Debden Park High School?
Willingale Road, Debden, Loughton, IG10 2BQ, in Essex.
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.