Sir John Lawes School is a mainstream secondary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 180 of its 1,373 pupils (13.1%) were getting SEN support and 27 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,373 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
13.1% get SEN support
180 of 1,373 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
27 of 1,373 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 dyslexia76
- Autism45
- Social, emotional and mental health42
- Speech, language and communication12
- Moderate learning difficulty11
- Physical disability5
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
- 1,373 (places for 1,200)
- Headteacher
- Mr Philip Newbery
- Part of
- Scholars' Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 9.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137270
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, March 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QP
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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
- Sauncey Wood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 0.5 miles
- St Luke's School Special school · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.8 miles
- Margaret Wix Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.6 miles
- Batchwood School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Manland Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 6.9%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.1 miles
- St George's School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 5.3%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.3 miles
- Crabtree Infants' School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 5.6%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Sir John Lawes School
How many pupils at Sir John Lawes School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 180 of the 1,373 pupils (13.1%) were getting SEN support and 27 (2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Sir John Lawes School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (76 pupils), autism (45 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (42 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sir John Lawes 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 Sir John Lawes 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 Sir John Lawes School?
You can ask for Sir John Lawes 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 Sir John Lawes 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 Sauncey Wood Primary School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Sir John Lawes School?
Manland Way, Harpenden, AL5 4QP, 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.