The Duston School is an all-through mainstream school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire, for children and young people aged 4 to 18. In January 2026, 366 of its 2,064 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 37 (1.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–18
- 2,064 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Northamptonshire.
17.7% get SEN support
366 of 2,064 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.8% have an EHC plan
37 of 2,064 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 dyslexia148
- Social, emotional and mental health116
- Speech, language and communication94
- Physical disability32
- Hearing impairment6
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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 2,064 (places for 1,830)
- Headteacher
- Mr Samuel Strickland (Principal)
- Part of
- Luminara Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 16.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Northamptonshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138214
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 West Northamptonshire 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
Report card, March 2026: Strong standard in every area
Inspected in March 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Early yearsStrong standard
- Post-16Strong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton, NN5 6XA
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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
- St James Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.7 miles
- Hunsbury Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.2 miles
- Hampton Bridge School Independent · Ages 6–18 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.4 miles
- Northgate School Academy Trust Special school · Ages 11–18 2.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Luke's Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 7.9%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.4 miles
- Duston Eldean Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 14.6%, EHC plans 4.5% 0.6 miles
- Hopping Hill Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in West Northamptonshire SEND schools in West Northamptonshire
Questions about The Duston School
How many pupils at The Duston School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 366 of the 2,064 pupils (17.7%) were getting SEN support and 37 (1.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Duston School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (148 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (116 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (94 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Duston 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 The Duston School?
Through West Northamptonshire 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 The Duston School?
You can ask for The Duston 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 The Duston 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 St James Church of England Primary School, about 1.7 miles away.
Where is The Duston School?
Berrywood Road, Duston, Northampton, NN5 6XA, in West Northamptonshire.
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.