Honywood School is a mainstream secondary school in Colchester, Essex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 185 of its 849 pupils (21.8%) were getting SEN support and 68 (8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 849 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Essex.
21.8% get SEN support
185 of 849 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
8% have an EHC plan
68 of 849 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism108
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia34
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Speech, language and communication6
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 849 (places for 800)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Saunders
- Part of
- Saffron Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 16.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Essex
- School reference (URN)
- 136729
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
Rated Good, December 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in December 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Westfield Drive, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1PZ
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
- Kelvedon St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.9 miles
- Chatten Free School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.2 miles
- Southview School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.7 miles
- Acorn Infant Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 5.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Peter's Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School, Coggeshall Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 5% 0.3 miles
- Feering Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 2.7% 2.5 miles
- Great Tey Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.6%, EHC plans 14% 3.0 miles
Questions about Honywood School
How many pupils at Honywood School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 185 of the 849 pupils (21.8%) were getting SEN support and 68 (8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Honywood School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (108 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Honywood 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 Honywood 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 Honywood School?
You can ask for Honywood 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 Honywood 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 Kelvedon St Mary's Church of England Primary Academy, about 2.9 miles away.
Where is Honywood School?
Westfield Drive, Coggeshall, Colchester, CO6 1PZ, 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.