Etonbury Academy is a mainstream middle school in Arlesey, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 9 to 19. In January 2026, 131 of its 1,158 pupils (11.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–19
- 1,158 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Central Bedfordshire.
11.3% get SEN support
131 of 1,158 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
33 of 1,158 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health56
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia36
- Speech, language and communication26
- Autism22
- Moderate learning difficulty6
- 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 middle school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 9 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,158 (places for 1,270)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Joanne Young (Principal)
- Part of
- Bedfordshire Schools Trust Limited
- Free school meals
- 15.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 137632
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, February 2020; standards maintained (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2020.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Stotfold Road, Arlesey, SG15 6XS
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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
- Samuel Whitbread Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 13–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.1 miles
- Brandles School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.6 miles
- Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.8 miles
- Shefford Lower School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–9 · Ofsted: Good 4.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Pix Brook Academy Middle · Ages 9–16 · SEN support 9.6%, EHC plans 5.5% 0.7 miles
- Gothic Mede Academy Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 22.5%, EHC plans 12% 1.0 mile
- Roecroft Lower School Primary · Ages 5–9 · SEN support 4.5%, EHC plans 3.3% 1.1 miles
All mainstream schools in Central Bedfordshire SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
Questions about Etonbury Academy
How many pupils at Etonbury Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 131 of the 1,158 pupils (11.3%) were getting SEN support and 33 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Etonbury Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (56 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (36 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Etonbury Academy?
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 Etonbury Academy?
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 Etonbury Academy?
You can ask for Etonbury Academy 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 Etonbury Academy 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 Samuel Whitbread Academy, about 3.1 miles away.
Where is Etonbury Academy?
Stotfold Road, Arlesey, SG15 6XS, 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.