Vandyke Upper School is a mainstream secondary school in Leighton Buzzard, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 13 to 18. In January 2026, 180 of its 1,517 pupils (11.9%) were getting SEN support and 70 (4.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 13–18
- 1,517 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Central Bedfordshire.
11.9% get SEN support
180 of 1,517 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.6% have an EHC plan
70 of 1,517 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health112
- Autism63
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia41
- Speech, language and communication12
- Moderate learning difficulty10
- 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
- 13 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,517 (places for 1,440)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Leah Ferguson-Moore
- Part of
- Vandyke Upper School
- Free school meals
- 16.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137169
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 Central Bedfordshire 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, March 2015; school remains Good (January 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2024).
Contact and getting there
Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY
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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
- Heathwood Lower School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- The Rushmere Park Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–9 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- Oak Bank School Special school · Ages 9–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.8 miles
- Benjamin College Independent · Ages 12–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- Beaudesert Lower School Primary · Ages 4–9 · SEN support 7.2%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.5 miles
- Dovery Academy Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 8.9%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.7 miles
- Leedon Lower School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 13%, EHC plans 3.3% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in Central Bedfordshire SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
Questions about Vandyke Upper School
How many pupils at Vandyke Upper School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 180 of the 1,517 pupils (11.9%) were getting SEN support and 70 (4.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Vandyke Upper School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (112 pupils), autism (63 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (41 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Vandyke Upper 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 Vandyke Upper School?
Through Central Bedfordshire 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 Vandyke Upper School?
You can ask for Vandyke Upper 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 Vandyke Upper 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 Heathwood Lower School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Vandyke Upper School?
Vandyke Road, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 3DY, in Central Bedfordshire.
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.