Tanfield School is a mainstream secondary school in Stanley, County Durham, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 100 of its 739 pupils (13.5%) were getting SEN support and 32 (4.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 739 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in County Durham.
13.5% get SEN support
100 of 739 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.3% have an EHC plan
32 of 739 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism41
- Social, emotional and mental health34
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Speech, language and communication10
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia5
- 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 (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 739 (places for 690)
- Headteacher
- Mr Steven Clough
- Part of
- Eden Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 32.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- County Durham
- School reference (URN)
- 147894
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
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 attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Tanfield Lea Road, Stanley, DH9 8AY
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
- Greenland Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Croft Community School Special school · Ages 4–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.0 miles
- Burnopfield Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.2 miles
- Villa Real School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Stanley Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 1.5% 0.6 miles
- Tanfield Lea Community Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 20.3%, EHC plans 0.3% 0.6 miles
- North Durham Academy Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 16.5%, EHC plans 3.2% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in County Durham SEND schools in County Durham
Questions about Tanfield School
How many pupils at Tanfield School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 100 of the 739 pupils (13.5%) were getting SEN support and 32 (4.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Tanfield School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (41 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (34 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (34 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Tanfield 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 Tanfield School?
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 Tanfield School?
You can ask for Tanfield 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 Tanfield 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 Greenland Community Primary School, about 1.4 miles away.
Where is Tanfield School?
Tanfield Lea Road, Stanley, DH9 8AY, 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.