Hurstmere School is a mainstream secondary school in Sidcup, Bexley, for boys aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 181 of its 893 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 23 (2.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 893 pupils
- Boys only
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Bexley.
20.3% get SEN support
181 of 893 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.6% have an EHC plan
23 of 893 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health76
- Autism43
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia39
- Speech, language and communication21
- Visual impairment7
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 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys only
- Pupils
- 893 (places for 1,065)
- Headteacher
- Lynn Bennett
- Part of
- The Howard Academy Trust
- Free school meals
- 15.8% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Bexley
- School reference (URN)
- 151382
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 Bexley 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 Requires improvement, September 2022
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in September 2022.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Hurst Road, Sidcup, DA15 9AW
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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
- Marlborough School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Sherwood Park Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
- Blackfen School for Girls Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 0.7 miles
- Cleeve Meadow School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Chatsworth Infant School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 8.6%, EHC plans 1% 0.3 miles
- Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 0.6%, EHC plans 0.5% 0.3 miles
- Holy Trinity Lamorbey Church of England School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17.4%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.5 miles
Questions about Hurstmere School
How many pupils at Hurstmere School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 181 of the 893 pupils (20.3%) were getting SEN support and 23 (2.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Hurstmere School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (76 pupils), autism (43 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (39 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Hurstmere 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 Hurstmere School?
Through Bexley 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 Hurstmere School?
You can ask for Hurstmere 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 Hurstmere 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 Sherwood Park Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Hurstmere School?
Hurst Road, Sidcup, DA15 9AW, in Bexley.
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.