Didcot Girls' School is a mainstream secondary school in Didcot, Oxfordshire, for girls aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 251 of its 1,633 pupils (15.4%) were getting SEN support and 45 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,633 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Oxfordshire.
15.4% get SEN support
251 of 1,633 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
45 of 1,633 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 health81
- Moderate learning difficulty58
- Autism57
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia52
- Speech, language and communication25
- Hearing impairment8
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
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 1,633 (places for 1,593)
- Headteacher
- Sarah Roberts & Martha Hawes
- Part of
- Ridgeway Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Oxfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138490
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 Oxfordshire 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, November 2015; school remains Outstanding (November 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, November 2022).
Contact and getting there
Manor Crescent, Didcot, OX11 7AJ
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 Unicorn School Independent · Ages 6–19 4.7 miles
- Kingfisher School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.8 miles
- Rush Common School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 5.1 miles
- Fitzharrys School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 5.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Manor Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 18.2%, EHC plans 7.2% 0.1 miles
- Stephen Freeman Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.4 miles
- Aureus Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 5.8% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Oxfordshire SEND schools in Oxfordshire
Questions about Didcot Girls' School
How many pupils at Didcot Girls' School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 251 of the 1,633 pupils (15.4%) were getting SEN support and 45 (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 Didcot Girls' School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (81 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (58 pupils) and autism (57 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Didcot Girls' 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 Didcot Girls' School?
Through Oxfordshire 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 Didcot Girls' School?
You can ask for Didcot Girls' 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 Didcot Girls' 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 Rush Common School, about 5.1 miles away.
Where is Didcot Girls' School?
Manor Crescent, Didcot, OX11 7AJ, in Oxfordshire.
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.