Fairlands Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Cheddar, Somerset, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 63 of its 405 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 12 (3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 405 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Somerset.
15.6% get SEN support
63 of 405 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3% have an EHC plan
12 of 405 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 difficulty23
- Social, emotional and mental health18
- Speech, language and communication9
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia9
- Autism7
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
- 405 (places for 508)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Rebecca Bennett
- Part of
- Wessex Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 19% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Somerset
- School reference (URN)
- 147825
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 Somerset 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, September 2024
Inspected in September 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Masons Way, Cheddar, BS27 3PG
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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
- Sky Vale Independent · Ages 6–18 5.9 miles
- Sedgemoor Manor School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 6.1 miles
- Locking Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 7.3 miles
- Priory Community School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 8.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Kings of Wessex Academy Secondary · Ages 13–18 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.4 miles
- Cheddar First School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 10.9%, EHC plans 1.7% 0.5 miles
- Draycott & Rodney Stoke Church of England First School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 12.9%, EHC plans 2.9% 1.4 miles
Questions about Fairlands Middle School
How many pupils at Fairlands Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 63 of the 405 pupils (15.6%) were getting SEN support and 12 (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 Fairlands Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (23 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (18 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Fairlands 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 Fairlands Middle School?
Through Somerset 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 Fairlands Middle School?
You can ask for Fairlands 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 Fairlands 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 Locking Primary School, about 7.3 miles away.
Where is Fairlands Middle School?
Masons Way, Cheddar, BS27 3PG, in Somerset.
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.