Houstone School is a mainstream secondary school in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 98 of its 765 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 37 (4.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 765 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Central Bedfordshire.
12.8% get SEN support
98 of 765 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
4.8% have an EHC plan
37 of 765 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia46
- Social, emotional and mental health38
- Autism21
- Speech, language and communication17
- Moderate learning difficulty9
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 765 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Ms Elizabeth English
- Part of
- Advantage Schools
- Free school meals
- 28.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Central Bedfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 149107
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 Central Bedfordshire 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, May 2025
Inspected in May 2025. 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
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PX
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
- The Chiltern School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.0 miles
- Chantry Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Pastures Way Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Stannard School Independent · Ages 5–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Lime Tree Primary Academy Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 16.1%, EHC plans 1.4% 0.2 miles
- Thornhill Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 6.2%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.4 miles
- St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.4%, EHC plans 4.7% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in Central Bedfordshire SEND schools in Central Bedfordshire
Questions about Houstone School
How many pupils at Houstone School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 98 of the 765 pupils (12.8%) were getting SEN support and 37 (4.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Houstone School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (46 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (38 pupils) and autism (21 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Houstone 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 Houstone School?
Through Central Bedfordshire 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 Houstone School?
You can ask for Houstone 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 Houstone 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 Chantry Primary Academy, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is Houstone School?
Parkside Drive, Houghton Regis, Dunstable, LU5 5PX, in Central Bedfordshire.
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.