The Bulmershe School is a mainstream secondary school in Reading, Wokingham, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 148 of its 1,530 pupils (9.7%) were getting SEN support and 58 (3.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,530 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Wokingham.
9.7% get SEN support
148 of 1,530 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
3.8% have an EHC plan
58 of 1,530 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism78
- Social, emotional and mental health74
- Moderate learning difficulty18
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia12
- Speech, language and communication11
- Hearing impairment5
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
- 1,530 (places for 1,400)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Amanda Woodfin
- Part of
- The Corvus Learning Trust
- Free school meals
- 16.9% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wokingham
- School reference (URN)
- 149611
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 Wokingham 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, November 2017
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Reading, RG5 3EU
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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
- Addington School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.0 miles
- Highwood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- The Ambleside Centre Mainstream + base · Ages 3–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.6 miles
- Hamilton School Special school · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
Other mainstream schools
- St Dominic Savio Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 3.6% 0.6 miles
- Beechwood Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 19.7%, EHC plans 4.1% 0.6 miles
- South Lake Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 14.4%, EHC plans 2.5% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Wokingham SEND schools in Wokingham
Questions about The Bulmershe School
How many pupils at The Bulmershe School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 148 of the 1,530 pupils (9.7%) were getting SEN support and 58 (3.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at The Bulmershe School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (78 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (74 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (18 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Bulmershe 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 Bulmershe School?
Through Wokingham 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 Bulmershe School?
You can ask for The Bulmershe 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 Bulmershe 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 Highwood Primary School, about 0.2 miles away.
Where is The Bulmershe School?
Woodlands Avenue, Woodley, Reading, RG5 3EU, in Wokingham.
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.