Abbeyfield School is a mainstream secondary school in Chippenham, Wiltshire, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 89 of its 902 pupils (9.9%) were getting SEN support and 62 (6.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 902 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Wiltshire.
9.9% get SEN support
89 of 902 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
6.9% have an EHC plan
62 of 902 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism41
- Social, emotional and mental health30
- Speech, language and communication29
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Moderate learning difficulty14
- 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 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 902 (places for 1,069)
- Headteacher
- Mr Nicholas Norgrove
- Part of
- The Athelstan Trust
- Free school meals
- 28% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Wiltshire
- School reference (URN)
- 151948
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 Wiltshire 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 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in November 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Stanley Lane, Chippenham, SN15 3XB
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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
- Charter Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 0.6 miles
- St Paul's Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–11 1.8 miles
- Notton House Academy Special school · Ages 8–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 2.4 miles
- The Springfields Academy Special school · Ages 4–19 · Ofsted report card (2026) 3.5 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Kings Lodge Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 11.7%, EHC plans 3.4% 0.5 miles
- Monkton Park Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 13.5%, EHC plans 2.4% 0.8 miles
- Ivy Lane Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10%, EHC plans 2% 1.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Wiltshire SEND schools in Wiltshire
Questions about Abbeyfield School
How many pupils at Abbeyfield School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 89 of the 902 pupils (9.9%) were getting SEN support and 62 (6.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Abbeyfield School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (41 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (30 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (29 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Abbeyfield 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 Abbeyfield School?
Through Wiltshire 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 Abbeyfield School?
You can ask for Abbeyfield 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 Abbeyfield 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 Charter Primary School, about 0.6 miles away.
Where is Abbeyfield School?
Stanley Lane, Chippenham, SN15 3XB, in Wiltshire.
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.