The Trafalgar School at Downton is a mainstream secondary school in Salisbury, Wiltshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 96 of its 808 pupils (11.9%) were getting SEN support and 62 (7.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 808 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Wiltshire.
11.9% get SEN support
96 of 808 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
7.7% have an EHC plan
62 of 808 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia55
- Social, emotional and mental health46
- Autism30
- Speech, language and communication9
- Moderate learning difficulty5
- Physical disability5
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
- 808 (places for 630)
- Headteacher
- Mr Jy Taylor
- Part of
- Magna Learning Partnership
- Free school meals
- 13.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wiltshire
- School reference (URN)
- 144389
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 Wiltshire 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, July 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (March 2020)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, March 2020).
Contact and getting there
Breamore Road, Downton, Salisbury, SP5 3HN
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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
- Fountain House Education Suite Independent · Ages 6–14 5.8 miles
- The Spires Independent · Ages 6–18 · Ofsted: Good 5.9 miles
- Salisbury, Manor Fields Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 6.2 miles
- Sarum St Paul's CofE (VA) Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 6.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Downton CofE VA Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.1%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.3 miles
- Morgan's Vale and Woodfalls Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 22.9%, EHC plans 4.6% 1.7 miles
- Hale Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.1%, EHC plans 4.1% 1.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Wiltshire SEND schools in Wiltshire
Questions about The Trafalgar School at Downton
How many pupils at The Trafalgar School at Downton have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 96 of the 808 pupils (11.9%) were getting SEN support and 62 (7.7%) 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 Trafalgar School at Downton?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (55 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (46 pupils) and autism (30 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Trafalgar School at Downton?
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 Trafalgar School at Downton?
Through Wiltshire 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 Trafalgar School at Downton?
You can ask for The Trafalgar School at Downton 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 Trafalgar School at Downton 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 Salisbury, Manor Fields Primary School, about 6.2 miles away.
Where is The Trafalgar School at Downton?
Breamore Road, Downton, Salisbury, SP5 3HN, in Wiltshire.
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.