Allenbourn Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Wimborne, Dorset, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 67 of its 499 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 20 (4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 499 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Dorset.
13.4% get SEN support
67 of 499 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4% have an EHC plan
20 of 499 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty24
- Social, emotional and mental health19
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia14
- Speech, language and communication13
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 middle school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 499 (places for 629)
- Headteacher
- Mr Mark Legge
- Part of
- Initio Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 141757
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 Dorset 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
Graded by area, January 2025
Inspected in January 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
East Borough, Wimborne, BH21 1PL
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
- Beaucroft Foundation School Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- South West Regional Assessment Centre Independent · Ages 16–25 1.3 miles
- Broadstone Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted: Good 2.7 miles
- Broadstone First School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–9 · Ofsted: Good 2.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Wimborne First School and Nursery Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 6.3%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.4 miles
- St John's Church of England First School, Wimborne Primary · Ages 5–9 · SEN support 20.3%, EHC plans 2.7% 0.4 miles
- Queen Elizabeth's School Secondary · Ages 13–18 · SEN support 14.8%, EHC plans 3% 0.8 miles
Questions about Allenbourn Middle School
How many pupils at Allenbourn Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 67 of the 499 pupils (13.4%) were getting SEN support and 20 (4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Allenbourn Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (24 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (19 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (14 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Allenbourn Middle 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 Allenbourn Middle School?
Through Dorset 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 Allenbourn Middle School?
You can ask for Allenbourn Middle 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 Allenbourn Middle 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 Broadstone Middle School, about 2.7 miles away.
Where is Allenbourn Middle School?
East Borough, Wimborne, BH21 1PL, in Dorset.
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.