Parmiter's School is a mainstream secondary school in Watford, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 122 of its 1,496 pupils (8.2%) were getting SEN support and 52 (3.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,496 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
8.2% get SEN support
122 of 1,496 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.5% have an EHC plan
52 of 1,496 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism72
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia33
- Social, emotional and mental health30
- Speech, language and communication7
- Hearing impairment5
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
- 1,496 (places for 1,392)
- Headteacher
- Mr Anthony Smith
- Part of
- Parmiter's School
- Free school meals
- 6.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 136899
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 Hertfordshire 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, July 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in July 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0UU
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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
- Saint Michael's Catholic High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 0.3 miles
- Garston Manor School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Breakspeare School Special school · Ages 2–19 1.3 miles
- Longdean School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Future Academies Watford Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 12.1%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.4 miles
- Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 7% 0.5 miles
- St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.9%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Parmiter's School
How many pupils at Parmiter's School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 122 of the 1,496 pupils (8.2%) were getting SEN support and 52 (3.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Parmiter's School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (72 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (33 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Parmiter's 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 Parmiter's School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Parmiter's School?
You can ask for Parmiter's 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 Parmiter's 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 Saint Michael's Catholic High School, about 0.3 miles away.
Where is Parmiter's School?
High Elms Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 0UU, in Hertfordshire.
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.