The Forest School is a mainstream secondary school in Horsham, West Sussex, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 215 of its 1,115 pupils (19.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.7%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,115 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in West Sussex.
19.3% get SEN support
215 of 1,115 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
2.7% have an EHC plan
30 of 1,115 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia112
- Social, emotional and mental health52
- Autism31
- Speech, language and communication25
- Moderate learning difficulty8
- Physical disability6
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 and girls
- Pupils
- 1,115 (places for 1,140)
- Headteacher
- Mr Ian Straw
- Part of
- Horsham Learning Alliance
- Free school meals
- 12.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Sussex
- School reference (URN)
- 151923
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 West Sussex 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, March 2017; school remains Good (January 2022)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2017. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, January 2022).
Contact and getting there
Comptons Lane, Horsham, RH13 5NT
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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
- Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee School, Horsham Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.2 miles
- Horsham Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–5 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Aurora Vincent House School Independent · Ages 5–19 1.2 miles
- Thomas Bennett Community College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 5.8 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Millais School Secondary · Ages 11–16 · SEN support 21.4%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.3 miles
- Heron Way Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.4 miles
- Kingslea Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 9.6%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in West Sussex SEND schools in West Sussex
Questions about The Forest School
How many pupils at The Forest School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 215 of the 1,115 pupils (19.3%) were getting SEN support and 30 (2.7%) 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 Forest School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (112 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (52 pupils) and autism (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at The Forest 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 Forest School?
Through West Sussex 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 Forest School?
You can ask for The Forest 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 Forest 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 Horsham Nursery School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is The Forest School?
Comptons Lane, Horsham, RH13 5NT, in West Sussex.
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.