Highfield Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Prudhoe, Northumberland, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 82 of its 365 pupils (22.5%) were getting SEN support and 14 (3.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 365 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Northumberland.
22.5% get SEN support
82 of 365 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.8% have an EHC plan
14 of 365 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health39
- Autism18
- Speech, language and communication12
- Moderate learning difficulty11
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
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
- 365 (places for 480)
- Headteacher
- Mr Richard Oades
- Part of
- Cheviot Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 31% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Northumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 146871
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 Northumberland 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 2018; school remains Good (March 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, March 2024).
Contact and getting there
Highfield Lane, Prudhoe, NE42 6EY
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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
- Thorp Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 3.3 miles
- Rowlands Gill Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 5.0 miles
- Talbot House Children's Charity Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted: Good 5.3 miles
- Thomas Bewick School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 6.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Prudhoe Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 14.6%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.0 miles
- Prudhoe West Academy Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 10.7%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.2 miles
- Prudhoe Community High School Secondary · Ages 13–19 · SEN support 14%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Northumberland SEND schools in Northumberland
Questions about Highfield Middle School
How many pupils at Highfield Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 82 of the 365 pupils (22.5%) were getting SEN support and 14 (3.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Highfield Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (39 pupils), autism (18 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (12 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Highfield 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 Highfield Middle School?
Through Northumberland 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 Highfield Middle School?
You can ask for Highfield 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 Highfield 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 Thorp Academy, about 3.3 miles away.
Where is Highfield Middle School?
Highfield Lane, Prudhoe, NE42 6EY, in Northumberland.
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.