The Matthew Arnold School is a mainstream secondary school in Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 117 of its 947 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 54 (5.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 947 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Surrey.
12.4% get SEN support
117 of 947 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.7% have an EHC plan
54 of 947 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 health50
- Speech, language and communication38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Autism18
- Moderate learning difficulty17
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 947 (places for 980)
- Headteacher
- Ms Assal Ruse
- Part of
- Bourne Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 20.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Surrey
- School reference (URN)
- 138765
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 Surrey 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, June 2018; school remains Good (February 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2024).
Contact and getting there
Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1PF
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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
- Ashford Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Hythe Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Green Corridor Independent · Ages 16–25 2.3 miles
- Egham Park School Ltd Independent · Ages 11–18 2.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about The Matthew Arnold School
How many pupils at The Matthew Arnold School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 117 of the 947 pupils (12.4%) were getting SEN support and 54 (5.7%) 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 Matthew Arnold School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (50 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (38 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Matthew Arnold 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 Matthew Arnold School?
Through Surrey 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 Matthew Arnold School?
You can ask for The Matthew Arnold 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 Matthew Arnold 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 Ashford Park Primary School, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is The Matthew Arnold School?
Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1PF, in Surrey.
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.