Best Special Need Schools in County Durham

Mill Lane Primary School is a good school in Stockton-on-Tees, providing a joyful, secure, and caring environment for children aged 3-11. With a dedicated leadership team and supportive governors, the school ensures most pupils make good progress. The well-designed curriculum and effective teaching methods, especially in reading, enable students to develop positive attitudes towards learning. The school places a high priority on safeguarding and offers effective support for pupils with English as an additional language. While standards of attainment are below national average, the school continues to address areas of improvement, including the progress of White British boys and certain aspects of mathematics teaching.

The Oaks Secondary School is an outstanding special school located in Spennymoor, North East. With a dedicated leadership and outstanding Ofsted report, the school offers a well-designed curriculum and achieves strong outcomes for its students. Staff, parents, and carers highly value the school. However, further development is needed in the support for pupils with mental health needs. Overall, The Oaks Secondary School is a top choice for parents seeking an exceptional education for their children.

Eskdale Academy is a primary school located in Hartlepool, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, the school provides a supportive and inclusive environment for children aged 3-11. The school's overall grade of 'A' reflects its commitment to academic excellence, while its strong focus on speech and communication support ensures that every child receives the attention they need. With good ratings in areas such as behavior, personal development, and leadership, Eskdale Academy prepares students for success and promotes a thriving learning community.

Our Lady & St. Bede Catholic Academy is an outstanding secondary school located in Stockton-on-Tees. With a student-teacher ratio of 18:1, the school provides a nurturing and supportive environment for students aged 11-16. The school's excellent academic standards, outstanding leadership, and high-quality teaching and learning ensure that students achieve exceptional outcomes. The school's commitment to promoting spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, along with its impartial careers guidance, sets it apart. Joining the Carmel Education Trust has further enhanced the school's progress and achievements. We warmly welcome visitors to experience the welcoming and inclusive community at Our Lady & St. Bede Catholic Academy.

Northwood Primary School is a co-ed primary school located in Darlington, North East. With a strong emphasis on technological skills, the school provides an outstanding early years provision and has passionate staff who are committed to excellence. The school boasts an exceptional leadership team, skilled governors, and a strong safeguarding culture. While some areas can be improved, the school overall achieves good outcomes for pupils and fosters a respectful and safe learning environment.

Elemore Hall School is a secondary school located in Pittington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, it offers a nurturing and supportive environment for students aged 11-16. The school focuses on the social, emotional, and mental health needs of its students, providing effective individual support. Elemore Hall School has shown good overall effectiveness, academic progress, and personal development. However, there is room for improvement in areas such as spelling and grammar, mathematics problem-solving skills, and attendance. The school's extensive grounds offer numerous opportunities for outdoor learning and activities.

Mount Pleasant Primary School is a co-ed primary school located in Darlington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 26:1, our dedicated teachers provide quality education and support to students aged 2-11. We have a diverse student population and offer nursery classes. Our school strives for academic excellence, as reflected in our A-grade academics rating, high exam scores, and 87% of students achieving a GCSE grade 4 or higher. We also prioritize the safety and well-being of our students with a strong focus on SEN support. With a overall grade of A and a friendly, inclusive atmosphere, Mount Pleasant is the ideal school for your child's educational journey.

Red Hall Primary School is a highly inclusive and caring primary school located in Darlington. With a strong emphasis on safeguarding, the school provides a safe and nurturing environment for children aged 2-11. The school has a good overall grade and outstanding early years provision. They have a culture of high expectations and encourage debate, ensuring that pupils make good progress in English and excel in their personal development. However, there are some areas for improvement in tracking progress in certain subjects and consistency in teaching reading. Overall, Red Hall Primary School offers a quality education with exceptional provision for two-year-olds.

St John the Baptist Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School is a co-ed primary school located in Stockton-on-Tees, North East. With strong Christian values and a commitment to inclusion, the school offers a nurturing environment for students aged 2-11. The leadership team ensures a good quality of education, effective safeguarding measures, and notable progress for disadvantaged pupils. While there have been minor inconsistencies in phonics teaching and below-average attendance, the school overall maintains a good standard of teaching, behaviour, and safety.

Wheatley Hill Community Primary School is a primary school located in Wheatley Hill, North East. With a strong leadership team committed to providing the best education and experiences for pupils, the school ensures good progress for all students, especially those with special educational needs. Safeguarding is given high priority, and the school has outstanding behavior and safety standards. Although there is room for improvement in reaching higher levels of attainment, the school fosters a happy and well-behaved learning environment.

High Tunstall College of Science is a co-ed secondary school located in Hartlepool, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and a Good Ofsted rating, the school is dedicated to providing a high-quality education. The school focuses on personal development, ensuring students receive support and resources to excel academically. With a strong emphasis on safety and welfare, High Tunstall College of Science aims to create a nurturing environment for all students.

Northfield School and Sports College is a secondary school located in Wolviston, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 17:1, the school provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students aged 11-16. With a Good Ofsted rating and strong exam results, the school prioritizes academic achievement whilst also promoting personal development, behaviour, and welfare. Offering a wide range of sports and extracurricular activities, Northfield School and Sports College provides a well-rounded education for students.

King James I Academy Bishop Auckland is a co-educational secondary school located in Bishop Auckland, North East. With a student teacher ratio of 14:1 and a strong focus on personal development and welfare, the school provides a supportive learning environment for students aged 11-18. The school has been rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, demonstrating its effectiveness in leadership, teaching, and outcomes for pupils. With a B- grade overall, King James I Academy is committed to providing quality education and ensuring the well-being of its students.

Belmont Community School is a secondary school located in Belmont, North East. With a strong leadership and management team, the school offers good teaching with high expectations, resulting in rising standards of attainment. The school focuses on reducing the gap in progress between disadvantaged pupils and others, providing effective support for students with special educational needs. The school also places importance on personal development, behavior and welfare of students, fostering positive relationships between pupils and staff. With an overall grade of B-, Belmont Community School ensures a safe and inclusive environment for students to thrive.

Beaumont Hill Academy is an all-through school in Darlington, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, the school provides individualized attention to students aged 2-19. The dedicated staff and effective leadership ensure a good overall effectiveness, as recognized by Ofsted. The school offers a clear vision for the future and has improved teaching and learning. However, middle leaders need to play a larger role in future improvement. The school has a positive transition process for post-16 students and receives positive feedback from parents and carers. While there is room for improvement in writing skills, the school focuses on personal development, behavior, and welfare. Despite previous challenges, Beaumont Hill Academy is committed to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for students.

Woodham Academy is a secondary school located in Great Aycliffe, North East. With a strong focus on academic achievement, the school provides high-quality opportunities for students to excel. The dedicated staff and effective leadership ensure a positive learning environment where students thrive. With a good overall grade from Ofsted, Woodham Academy is a great choice for parents looking for a school that prioritizes personal development, behavior, and welfare.

Durham Gilesgate Primary School is a co-educational school located in Belmont, North East. With a student-teacher ratio of 20:1, the school provides a nurturing environment for children aged 2-11. Led by Mr Mark Turner, the school focuses on strong leadership and effective early years provision, promoting good personal development and welfare. However, there are areas requiring improvement, such as variable teaching quality and below average attainment in reading and mathematics.

Croft Community School is an all-through school located in Annfield Plain, Stanley. With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides a supportive and inclusive environment for students aged 4-16. The school has a strong focus on communication and mental health, catering to students with speech, language and communication needs, as well as autism spectrum disorders and learning difficulties. The school's overall effectiveness is rated as 'Good' by Ofsted, with outstanding behaviour and attitudes. Croft Community School offers a broad and varied curriculum, supported by excellent resources, ensuring that every student receives a quality education.

Brougham Primary School is a well-focused and inclusive primary school located in Hartlepool. Led by Mrs SH Greenan, the school prioritizes strong personal development and academic progress. With a student teacher ratio of 19:1, pupils receive individual attention, fostering a positive learning atmosphere. The school implements effective safeguarding measures and offers a structured phonics curriculum tailored to students' needs. While attendance rates could be improved, Brougham Primary School provides a safe and nurturing environment for children to thrive.

Hope Wood Academy is an all-through school located in Easington Colliery, North East. With an exceptional student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides a safe and nurturing environment for students aged 2-19. Led by highly effective leaders, the school focuses on quality teaching and learning, outstanding behavior, and welfare. Although opportunities to challenge the most able pupils are sometimes missed, the school offers a well-planned and structured curriculum. Overall, Hope Wood Academy is a good school that prioritizes personal development and ensures the safety and success of its students.