Katherine Warington School is a mainstream secondary school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 157 of its 1,113 pupils (14.1%) were getting SEN support and 59 (5.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,113 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
14.1% get SEN support
157 of 1,113 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.3% have an EHC plan
59 of 1,113 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 health77
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia51
- Autism48
- Speech, language and communication12
- Moderate learning difficulty9
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 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,113
- Headteacher
- Mr David Martin
- Part of
- Harpenden Secondary Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 145890
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 Hertfordshire 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, February 2024
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2024.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Lower Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 5FH
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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
- Sauncey Wood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 0.4 miles
- St Luke's School Special school · Ages 7–16 · Ofsted: Good 3.3 miles
- Margaret Wix Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.6 miles
- Batchwood School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.0 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Sir John Lawes School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 13.1%, EHC plans 2% 0.6 miles
- Crabtree Infants' School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 5.6%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.6 miles
- Crabtree Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 16.8%, EHC plans 2% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Katherine Warington School
How many pupils at Katherine Warington School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 157 of the 1,113 pupils (14.1%) were getting SEN support and 59 (5.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Katherine Warington School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (77 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (51 pupils) and autism (48 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Katherine Warington 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 Katherine Warington School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Katherine Warington School?
You can ask for Katherine Warington 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 Katherine Warington 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 Sauncey Wood Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Katherine Warington School?
Lower Luton Road, Harpenden, AL5 5FH, in Hertfordshire.
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.