Sedgefield Community College is a mainstream secondary school in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 142 of its 982 pupils (14.5%) were getting SEN support and 48 (4.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 982 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in County Durham.
14.5% get SEN support
142 of 982 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.9% have an EHC plan
48 of 982 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 health44
- Autism36
- Moderate learning difficulty35
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia35
- Speech, language and communication14
- Visual impairment5
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
- 982 (places for 975)
- Headteacher
- Mr Paul Fleming
- Part of
- The Laidlaw Schools Trust
- Free school meals
- 24.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 147670
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 County Durham 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 Outstanding, March 2017; school remains Outstanding (May 2022)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in March 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Outstanding (ungraded inspection, May 2022).
Contact and getting there
Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3DD
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
- Trimdon Hill School Independent · Ages 4–11 3.8 miles
- North East Centre for Autism - Aycliffe School Independent · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 4.9 miles
- Woodham Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 5.1 miles
- St Paul's Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 5.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 29.3%, EHC plans 4.3% 0.2 miles
- Sedgefield Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 13.6%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.5 miles
- Fishburn Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 28.8%, EHC plans 5.4% 1.9 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about Sedgefield Community College
How many pupils at Sedgefield Community College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 142 of the 982 pupils (14.5%) were getting SEN support and 48 (4.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Sedgefield Community College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (44 pupils), autism (36 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (35 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sedgefield Community College?
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 Sedgefield Community College?
Through County Durham 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 Sedgefield Community College?
You can ask for Sedgefield Community College 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 Sedgefield Community College 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 Woodham Academy, about 5.1 miles away.
Where is Sedgefield Community College?
Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, TS21 3DD, in County Durham.
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.