The Highfield School is a mainstream secondary school in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 222 of its 937 pupils (23.7%) were getting SEN support and 48 (5.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 937 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
23.7% get SEN support
222 of 937 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
5.1% have an EHC plan
48 of 937 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 health77
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia71
- Autism37
- Moderate learning difficulty34
- Speech, language and communication24
- Physical disability9
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
- 937 (places for 1,068)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Zoe Armitage
- Part of
- Scholars' Education Trust
- Free school meals
- 27% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 150217
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 Hertfordshire 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, May 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Highfield, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3QA
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
- Lordship Farm Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
- Woolgrove School, Special Needs Academy Special school · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.7 miles
- The Priory School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.8 miles
- Brandles School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 7.7%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.1 miles
- Fearnhill School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 21.1%, EHC plans 5% 0.6 miles
- Icknield Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 8.3%, EHC plans 8.3% 0.9 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about The Highfield School
How many pupils at The Highfield School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 222 of the 937 pupils (23.7%) were getting SEN support and 48 (5.1%) 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 Highfield School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (77 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (71 pupils) and autism (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Highfield 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 Highfield School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Highfield School?
You can ask for The Highfield 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 Highfield 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 Lordship Farm Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is The Highfield School?
Highfield, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3QA, in Hertfordshire.
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.