St Osmund's Church of England Middle School is a mainstream middle school in Dorchester, Dorset, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 99 of its 714 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 45 (6.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 714 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Dorset.
13.9% get SEN support
99 of 714 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
6.3% have an EHC plan
45 of 714 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism50
- Social, emotional and mental health32
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia23
- Speech, language and communication11
- Hearing impairment7
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
- 714 (places for 720)
- Headteacher
- Mr Gareth Biddle
- Part of
- Wessex Multi Academy Trust
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 17.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 147904
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 Dorset 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 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in July 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Barnes Way, Dorchester, DT1 2DZ
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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
- Dorchester Middle School Mainstream + base · Ages 9–13 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.7 miles
- The Thomas Hardye School Mainstream + base · Ages 13–18 1.0 mile
- Westfield Arts College Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 4.2 miles
- Wyvern Academy Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 4.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Manor Park Church of England First School Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 19.4%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.1 miles
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Dorchester Primary · Ages 2–9 · SEN support 6.8%, EHC plans 2.3% 0.2 miles
- Dorset Studio School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 41%, EHC plans 9.9% 1.5 miles
Questions about St Osmund's Church of England Middle School
How many pupils at St Osmund's Church of England Middle School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 99 of the 714 pupils (13.9%) were getting SEN support and 45 (6.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Osmund's Church of England Middle School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (50 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (32 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Osmund's Church of England 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 St Osmund's Church of England Middle School?
Through Dorset 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 St Osmund's Church of England Middle School?
You can ask for St Osmund's Church of England 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 St Osmund's Church of England 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 Dorchester Middle School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is St Osmund's Church of England Middle School?
Barnes Way, Dorchester, DT1 2DZ, in Dorset.
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.