DOCS

SEN Count

Calculated

Last refreshed 30 January 2026 16:42
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SEN Count

Calculated

Number of pupils with special educational needs

Understanding SEN Count

The SEN Count shows the absolute number of students with Special Educational Needs at the school. This includes students with SEN Support and those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

What This Tells You

The raw count indicates the scale of SEN provision required: - How many students need additional support - The absolute size of the SEND department’s caseload - Resource requirements in absolute terms

Percentage vs Count

For school comparisons, SEN percentage is typically more meaningful as it accounts for school size. However, the raw count matters for: - Understanding staffing requirements - Resource allocation - Specialist provision planning

Types of SEN

This count typically includes: - SEN Support: Students receiving additional in-class support - EHCP holders: Students with formal plans requiring specific provision

Schools with higher SEN counts need more SENCOs, teaching assistants, and specialist resources to meet their students’ needs effectively.

Technical Details

Column Name
sen_count
Data Source
Calculated

Coverage by School Phase

How many schools have data available for this field.

Primary
93% 16763 / 17910
Secondary
95% 1202 / 1263
Secondary with Sixth Form
96% 1956 / 2033
Sixth Form Only
11% 34 / 289
All-through
95% 258 / 269
Special
88% 1828 / 2059
Independent
97% 1687 / 1724
Good (80%+)
Moderate (50-79%)
Poor (<50%)

This field does not contribute to the performance score calculation.

Distribution by School Phase

Statistical distribution of values across schools.

Min
0.0
Max
822.0
Mean
30.3
Median
24.29
Std Dev
27.65
Schools
23728
Primary (16763)
16758
4
1
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
Secondary (1202)
1194
8
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
Secondary with Sixth Form (1956)
1916
39
1
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
Sixth Form Only (34)
33
1
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
All-through (258)
253
5
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
Special (1828)
906
547
259
75
29
9
1
1
1
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822
Independent (1687)
1679
4
3
1
0 82 164 247 329 411 493 575 658 740 822

Related Fields

Fields that correlate with SEN Count. Click to explore.

Positive correlation
Negative correlation