St Paul's Catholic College is a mainstream secondary school in Burgess Hill, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 189 of its 1,160 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,160 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
16.3% get SEN support
189 of 1,160 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.4% have an EHC plan
28 of 1,160 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia76
- Social, emotional and mental health32
- Autism25
- Speech, language and communication20
- Physical disability14
- Moderate learning difficulty12
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 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,160 (places for 1,050)
- Headteacher
- Mr Rob Carter
- Part of
- Bosco Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 8.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 148753
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 West Sussex 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, February 2023
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in February 2023.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 8GA
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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
- Hambrook School Independent · Ages 5–18 1.0 mile
- Woodlands Meed Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- London Meed Community Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Warden Park Secondary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- The Gattons Infant School Primary · Ages 4–7 · SEN support 8%, EHC plans 2.8% 0.6 miles
- Southway Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 3.9% 0.6 miles
- Sheddingdean Community Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 4% 1.0 mile
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about St Paul's Catholic College
How many pupils at St Paul's Catholic College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 189 of the 1,160 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 28 (2.4%) 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 Paul's Catholic College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (76 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (32 pupils) and autism (25 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Paul's Catholic 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 St Paul's Catholic College?
Through West Sussex 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 Paul's Catholic College?
You can ask for St Paul's Catholic 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 St Paul's Catholic 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 London Meed Community Primary School, about 1.5 miles away.
Where is St Paul's Catholic College?
Jane Murray Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 8GA, in West Sussex.
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.