The Downley School is a mainstream primary school in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, for children aged 4 to 11. In January 2026, 39 of its 350 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 7 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 4–11
- 350 pupils
- Ofsted: Inadequate
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Buckinghamshire.
11.1% get SEN support
39 of 350 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
7 of 350 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication22
- Moderate learning difficulty12
- Social, emotional and mental health9
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 350 (places for 420)
- Headteacher
- Ms Leanne Dandridge
- Part of
- Oxford Diocesan Bucks Schools Trust
- Free school meals
- 14.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Buckinghamshire
- School reference (URN)
- 149485
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 Buckinghamshire 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
Special measures. Rated Inadequate, March 2022
Ofsted has placed this school in special measures.
Rated Inadequate at its last graded inspection, in March 2022.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- Early yearsInadequate
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Faulkner Way, Downley, High Wycombe, HP13 5AL
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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 Disraeli School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 0.9 miles
- Unity College Independent · Ages 11–18 0.9 miles
- Progress Schools - Buckinghamshire Independent · Ages 13–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.5 miles
- Great Kingshill Church of England Combined School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Millbrook Combined School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 24.4%, EHC plans 2.1% 0.8 miles
- West Wycombe School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 22.7%, EHC plans 3.2% 1.0 mile
- Oakridge School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 10.4%, EHC plans 3.5% 1.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Buckinghamshire SEND schools in Buckinghamshire
Questions about The Downley School
How many pupils at The Downley School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 39 of the 350 pupils (11.1%) were getting SEN support and 7 (2%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at The Downley School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (22 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (12 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (9 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Downley 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 The Downley School?
Through Buckinghamshire 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 The Downley School?
You can ask for The Downley 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 The Downley 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 The Disraeli School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is The Downley School?
Faulkner Way, Downley, High Wycombe, HP13 5AL, in Buckinghamshire.
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.