Bamburgh School

Bamburgh School is a community special school for pupils aged 3 to 16, all of whom have EHC plans. Following a graded inspection in September 2024, inspectors judged the school outstanding in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision; safeguarding arrangements are effective. This was an improvement from the previous good grade. Pupils are described as flourishing in a nurturing, ambitious culture with warm relationships. The curriculum is meticulously planned from early years to key stage 4 and is closely matched to pupils’ needs. Assessment is a notable strength, helping staff identify and close gaps, while reading and phonics are central and taught precisely. Early years children get off to a strong start because staff understand their complex needs before they begin. Behaviour is impeccable, attendance is extremely high, and pupils are kind, motivated and proud of their work. The school places EHC plans at the centre of provision and offers a wide range of enrichment. Leaders and governors have a shared ambitious vision, staff are positive about workload and well-being, and parents report the school makes a difference. Inspectors identified no areas for improvement in the report.

Strengths

• Exceptionally high standards and a meticulously planned curriculum from early years to key stage 4
• Learning is expertly matched to pupils’ needs, enabling deep knowledge and impressive recall
• Assessment, including the Bamburgh Preferred Model, is used effectively to track progress and close gaps
• Reading and phonics are central and taught with precision, supporting pupils with SEND to thrive
• Pupils’ behaviour is impeccable, and their motivation to learn is exceptional
• Attendance is extremely high, and the school’s work to maintain or improve it is highly impactful
• EHC plans are placed at the centre of provision, with targets carefully reviewed, amended and tracked
• Pupils enjoy extensive enrichment, including Bamfest, residentials and curriculum-linked trips
• Early years staff understand children’s complex needs before they start and target communication effectively
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective
• Leaders and governors share an ambitious vision and drive continuous improvement
• Staff enjoy working at the school and engage positively on workload and well-being
• Pupils feel safe and valued and say staff are the best thing about the school
• All pupils leave with a range of accredited qualifications

In 2024–25 pupils at Bamburgh School attended 92.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 24.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.9% of pupils at Bamburgh School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Bamburgh School had 8.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26 Bamburgh School had 223 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; moderate learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; physical disability; autistic spectrum disorder; other difficulty or disability.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Bamburgh School received £24,386 and spent £24,997 for each of its 223 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £520,000 (£2,331 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

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What is Bamburgh School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bamburgh School is Outstanding, from an inspection in October 2024.

When was Bamburgh School last inspected by Ofsted?

Bamburgh School was last inspected in October 2024.

How many pupils does Bamburgh School have?

Bamburgh School has 223 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bamburgh School cover?

Bamburgh School for pupils aged 3 to 16.

What are Bamburgh School's GCSE results?

In 2025 its average Attainment 8 score was 9.8, and 4% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

What are Bamburgh School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bamburgh School?

Bamburgh School is at Norham Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 7TD.