Sturminster Newton High School is a mainstream secondary school in Sturminster Newton, Dorset, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 101 of its 605 pupils (16.7%) were getting SEN support and 33 (5.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 605 pupils
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Dorset.
16.7% get SEN support
101 of 605 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
5.5% have an EHC plan
33 of 605 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health51
- Speech, language and communication23
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia23
- Autism19
- Moderate learning difficulty7
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
- 605 (places for 900)
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Motteram
- Part of
- Sherborne Area Schools' Trust
- Free school meals
- 30% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Dorset
- School reference (URN)
- 149657
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 Dorset 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
Report card, April 2026: Expected standard in every area
Inspected in April 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
- SafeguardingMet
Contact and getting there
Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1DT
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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
- Yewstock School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- The Forum School Independent · Ages 7–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 3.1 miles
- Gillingham Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 7.3 miles
- The Gryphon School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 9.3 miles
Other mainstream schools
- William Barnes Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 17.9%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.7 miles
- St Gregory's Church of England Primary School, Marnhull Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 15.7%, EHC plans 3.9% 2.3 miles
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Marnhull Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 23.2%, EHC plans 3.7% 3.1 miles
Questions about Sturminster Newton High School
How many pupils at Sturminster Newton High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 101 of the 605 pupils (16.7%) were getting SEN support and 33 (5.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Sturminster Newton High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (51 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Sturminster Newton High 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 Sturminster Newton High School?
Through Dorset 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 Sturminster Newton High School?
You can ask for Sturminster Newton High 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 Sturminster Newton High 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 Gillingham Primary School, about 7.3 miles away.
Where is Sturminster Newton High School?
Bath Road, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1DT, in Dorset.
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.