Freman College is a mainstream secondary school in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 13 to 18. In January 2026, 139 of its 1,049 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 24 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 13–18
- 1,049 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
13.3% get SEN support
139 of 1,049 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
24 of 1,049 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia45
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Autism23
- Speech, language and communication23
- Moderate learning difficulty9
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
- 13 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,049 (places for 903)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Norman
- Part of
- Freman College
- Free school meals
- 13.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137002
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 Good, November 2015; school remains Good (June 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, June 2024).
Contact and getting there
Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, SG9 9BT
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
- The Giles Infant and Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Good 7.0 miles
- Moss Bury Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 7.1 miles
- Lonsdale School Special school · Ages 3–18 · Ofsted: Good 7.3 miles
- Brandles School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 7.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Edwinstree Church of England Middle School Middle · Ages 9–13 · SEN support 25.7%, EHC plans 5.6% 0.2 miles
- Millfield First and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 10.3%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.5 miles
- Layston Church of England First School Primary · Ages 5–9 · SEN support 15.3%, EHC plans 7.3% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Freman College
How many pupils at Freman College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 139 of the 1,049 pupils (13.3%) were getting SEN support and 24 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Freman College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (45 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils) and autism (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Freman 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 Freman College?
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 Freman College?
You can ask for Freman 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 Freman 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 The Giles Infant and Nursery School, about 7.0 miles away.
Where is Freman College?
Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, SG9 9BT, 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.