Hadlow Rural Community School is a mainstream secondary school in Hadlow, Kent, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 132 of its 377 pupils (35%) were getting SEN support and 32 (8.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 377 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Kent.
35% get SEN support
132 of 377 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
8.5% have an EHC plan
32 of 377 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 health62
- Autism32
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia27
- Speech, language and communication14
- Moderate learning difficulty8
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 377 (places for 375)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Boxall
- Part of
- Hadlow Rural Community School Limited
- Free school meals
- 33.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Kent
- School reference (URN)
- 139697
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 Kent 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 Requires improvement, June 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in June 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, TN11 0AU
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
- Skills for Independence and Employability Ltd Independent · Ages 18–25 2.1 miles
- Cage Green Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- Leigh Academy Hugh Christie Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 2.2 miles
- YMCA West Kent Independent · Ages 16–19 2.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Hadlow Rural Community School
How many pupils at Hadlow Rural Community School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 132 of the 377 pupils (35%) were getting SEN support and 32 (8.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Hadlow Rural Community School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (62 pupils), autism (32 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (27 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Hadlow Rural Community 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 Hadlow Rural Community School?
Through Kent 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 Hadlow Rural Community School?
You can ask for Hadlow Rural Community 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 Hadlow Rural Community 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 Cage Green Primary School, about 2.1 miles away.
Where is Hadlow Rural Community School?
Tonbridge Road, Hadlow, TN11 0AU, in Kent.
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.