Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery is a mainstream primary school in Northampton, West Northamptonshire, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 52 of its 350 pupils (14.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (4.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 350 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in West Northamptonshire.
14.9% get SEN support
52 of 350 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.3% have an EHC plan
15 of 350 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication12
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 350 (places for 472)
- Headteacher
- Miss Jane Cooksley
- Part of
- The David Ross Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 31.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Northamptonshire
- School reference (URN)
- 138917
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
Rated Outstanding, November 2022; school remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (September 2021)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, September 2021).
Contact and getting there
Thorn Hill, Briar Hill, Northampton, NN4 8SW
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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
- Hunsbury Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- St James Church of England Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- WiEducate LTD Independent · Ages 16–25 1.4 miles
- Progress Schools - Northamptonshire Independent · Ages 13–16 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Delapre Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.5 miles
- Queen Eleanor Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9.4%, EHC plans 0.9% 0.7 miles
- Abbeyfield School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 8.4%, EHC plans 2.2% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in West Northamptonshire SEND schools in West Northamptonshire
Questions about Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery
How many pupils at Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 52 of the 350 pupils (14.9%) were getting SEN support and 15 (4.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery?
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 Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery?
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 Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery?
You can ask for Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery 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 Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery 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 Hunsbury Park Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Briar Hill Primary School & Nursery?
Thorn Hill, Briar Hill, Northampton, NN4 8SW, 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.