John Rankin Junior School is a mainstream primary school in Newbury, West Berkshire, for children aged 7 to 11. In January 2026, 60 of its 311 pupils (19.3%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 7–11
- 311 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in West Berkshire.
19.3% get SEN support
60 of 311 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
4 of 311 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism18
- Social, emotional and mental health18
- Speech, language and communication17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia6
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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 7 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 311 (places for 360)
- Headteacher
- Ms Flora Cooper
- Part of
- Maiden Erlegh Trust
- Free school meals
- 13.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- West Berkshire
- School reference (URN)
- 152177
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 Berkshire 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
Serious weaknesses. Graded by area, October 2024
Ofsted has placed this school in serious weaknesses.
Inspected in October 2024. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationInadequate
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementInadequate
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Henshaw Crescent, Newbury, RG14 6ES
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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
- Northcroft Vocational School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- Speenhamland School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- The Winchcombe School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.6 miles
- The Castle School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.9 miles
Other mainstream schools
- John Rankin Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 2–7 · SEN support 10.8%, EHC plans 4.2% 0.1 miles
- St Bartholomew's School Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 3% 0.3 miles
- St John the Evangelist CofE Infant and Nursery School Primary · Ages 3–7 · SEN support 8.5%, EHC plans 1.6% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in West Berkshire SEND schools in West Berkshire
Questions about John Rankin Junior School
How many pupils at John Rankin Junior School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 60 of the 311 pupils (19.3%) were getting SEN support and 4 (1.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at John Rankin Junior School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (18 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (18 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at John Rankin Junior 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 John Rankin Junior School?
Through West Berkshire 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 John Rankin Junior School?
You can ask for John Rankin Junior 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 John Rankin Junior 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 Speenhamland School, about 1.3 miles away.
Where is John Rankin Junior School?
Henshaw Crescent, Newbury, RG14 6ES, in West Berkshire.
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.