Sawston Village College is a mainstream secondary school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 207 of its 1,198 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 48 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,198 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cambridgeshire.
17.3% get SEN support
207 of 1,198 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
48 of 1,198 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 dyslexia79
- Social, emotional and mental health78
- Autism37
- Speech, language and communication22
- Moderate learning difficulty9
- Physical disability6
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
- 1,198 (places for 1,140)
- Headteacher
- Mr Jonathan Russell (Principal)
- Part of
- Anglian Learning
- Free school meals
- 16.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cambridgeshire
- School reference (URN)
- 136775
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 Cambridgeshire 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, November 2013; school remains Good (May 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 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, May 2023).
Contact and getting there
New Road, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BP
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
- Holme Court School Independent · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 4.1 miles
- Colville Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 4.2 miles
- Selwyn Hall School Independent · Ages 7–18 · Ofsted: Good 4.7 miles
- Melbourn Village College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 6.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Bellbird Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.1%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.4 miles
- The Icknield Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.7 miles
- William Westley Church of England VC Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 20%, EHC plans 2.7% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Cambridgeshire SEND schools in Cambridgeshire
Questions about Sawston Village College
How many pupils at Sawston Village College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 207 of the 1,198 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 48 (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 Sawston Village College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (79 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (78 pupils) and autism (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sawston Village 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 Sawston Village College?
Through Cambridgeshire 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 Sawston Village College?
You can ask for Sawston Village 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 Sawston Village 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 Colville Primary School, about 4.2 miles away.
Where is Sawston Village College?
New Road, Sawston, Cambridge, CB22 3BP, in Cambridgeshire.
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.