Northstowe Learning Community is an all-through mainstream school in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, for children and young people aged 4 to 19. In January 2026, 166 of its 920 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 34 (3.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–19
- 920 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Cambridgeshire.
18% get SEN support
166 of 920 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.7% have an EHC plan
34 of 920 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia69
- Social, emotional and mental health57
- Autism26
- Speech, language and communication16
- Moderate learning difficulty15
- 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 all-through school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 4 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 920 (places for 2,830)
- Headteacher
- Dr Claire Mills
- Part of
- Meridian Trust
- Free school meals
- 20.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Cambridgeshire
- School reference (URN)
- 148128
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 Cambridgeshire 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, March 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Stirling Road, Northstowe, Cambridge, CB24 1DJ
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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
- The Martin Bacon Academy Special school · Ages 3–19 0.1 miles
- The Centre School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
- Impington Village College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 3.1 miles
- St Laurence Catholic Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 4.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Hatton Park Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.1%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.9 miles
- Pathfinder CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 3.2% 1.3 miles
- Oakington CofE Primary School Primary · Ages 5–11 · SEN support 26.5%, EHC plans 1% 1.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Cambridgeshire SEND schools in Cambridgeshire
Questions about Northstowe Learning Community
How many pupils at Northstowe Learning Community have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 166 of the 920 pupils (18%) were getting SEN support and 34 (3.7%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Northstowe Learning Community?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (69 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (57 pupils) and autism (26 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Northstowe Learning Community?
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 Northstowe Learning Community?
Through Cambridgeshire 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 Northstowe Learning Community?
You can ask for Northstowe Learning Community 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 Northstowe Learning Community 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 Impington Village College, about 3.1 miles away.
Where is Northstowe Learning Community?
Stirling Road, Northstowe, Cambridge, CB24 1DJ, in Cambridgeshire.
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.