Durrington High School is a mainstream secondary school in Worthing, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 308 of its 1,572 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,572 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
19.6% get SEN support
308 of 1,572 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.5% have an EHC plan
39 of 1,572 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 dyslexia132
- Social, emotional and mental health66
- Speech, language and communication45
- Autism41
- Moderate learning difficulty27
- Hearing impairment7
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
- 1,572 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Co Headteacher Mr Shaun Allison Mr Chris Woodcock
- Part of
- Durrington Multi Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 19.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 140713
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 Sussex 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, March 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
The Boulevard, Worthing, BN13 1JX
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
- Oak Grove College Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Palatine Primary School Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.3 miles
- Orchards Junior School Mainstream + base · Ages 7–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Orchards Infant School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–7 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- English Martyrs Catholic Primary School, Worthing Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.6%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.2 miles
- Hawthorns Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.7%, EHC plans 10.4% 0.5 miles
- Durrington Infant School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about Durrington High School
How many pupils at Durrington High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 308 of the 1,572 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 39 (2.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Durrington High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (132 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (66 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (45 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Durrington High 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 Durrington High School?
Through West Sussex 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 Durrington High School?
You can ask for Durrington High 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 Durrington High 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 Orchards Junior School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Durrington High School?
The Boulevard, Worthing, BN13 1JX, in West Sussex.
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.