Dryden School
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Shotley Gardens Low Fell Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE9 5UR |
| Phone | 01914203811 |
| Reference Number | 131200 |
Dryden School continues to perform exceptionally well, maintaining the outstanding standards set in the previous inspection. The school fosters a calm and supportive environment where pupils are encouraged to learn and make significant progress towards personal targets. With high expectations set by staff, students feel motivated and capable, leading to a positive atmosphere conducive to learning. The school's commitment to understanding and catering to the specific needs of each pupil enables them to thrive both academically and in social interactions.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 71 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 69.01%
Girls: 30.99% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 48.3% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 14.1% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 8 | 11 | 6 | 17 |
| 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 10 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 11 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| 12 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 76.1% |
| Asian, Other | 5.6% |
| Pakistani | 4.2% |
| White, Other | 2.8% |
| White & Black (African) | 2.8% |
| Chinese | 1.4% |
| Unclassified | 1.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.4% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 14 Jan 2025 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 14 Jan 2025 | School inspection |
| 19 Nov 2019 | School inspection |
| 24 Jun 2015 | Full inspection: |
| 11 Jan 2012 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Jul 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 17 Jan 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 15 Sep 2003 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils make excellent progress towards their personal targets.
- Staff have very high expectations of students' achievements.
- Teachers skilfully integrate learning opportunities throughout the school day.
- The curriculum provides well-structured support for communication skills.
- Students benefit from meaningful work experience opportunities.
- The school promotes a culture of togetherness and community involvement.
Destinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
St Peter's Catholic Primary School, Low Fell
Dryden Road, Low Fell, St Peters Roman Catholic Voluntary Aided Primary School, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5TU |
0.1 miles |
|
Kells Lane Primary School
Kells Lane, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5HX |
0.45 miles |
|
Carr Hill Community Primary School
Carr Hill Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5NB |
0.5 miles |
|
Gibside School
Shipcote Lane, Gateshead, NE8 4DE |
0.53 miles |
|
Glynwood Community Primary School
Glynwood Gardens, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5SY |
0.54 miles |
|
South Street Community Primary School
Cramer Street, Deckham, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4BB |
0.67 miles |
|
Kelvin Grove Community Primary School
Kelvin Grove, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4UN |
0.71 miles |
|
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School, Gateshead
Dunsmuir Grove, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4QL |
0.75 miles |
|
Caedmon Community Primary School
Whitehall Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4LH |
0.77 miles |
|
Keser Torah Boys' School
18-22 Gladstone Terrace, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4EA |
0.88 miles |
|
Falla Park Community Primary School
Falla Park Road, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 9HP |
0.92 miles |
|
Keser Girls School
Ely Street, NE8 1NR |
0.97 miles |
|
Brighton Avenue Primary School
Brighton Road, Gateshead, NE8 1XS |
1.01 miles |
|
Oakfield Junior School
Chowdene Bank, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6JH |
1.01 miles |
|
Gateshead Jewish Nursery School
Alexandra Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1RB |
1.05 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Gateshead
Prince Consort Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1LR |
1.05 miles |
|
Larkspur Community Primary School
Beacon Lough East, Larkspur Primary School, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6SS |
1.08 miles |
|
Oakfield Infant School
Chowdene Bank, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6JH |
1.08 miles |
|
Bensham Grove Nursery School
Sidney Grove and Carr Hill Road, Gateshead, NE8 2XD |
1.08 miles |
|
Bede Community Primary School
Old Fold Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 0DJ |
1.1 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Haskel School
53 Bewick Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 4DR |
0.92 miles |
|
Gateshead Jewish Boarding School
10 Rydal Street, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 1HG |
0.92 miles |
|
Furrowfield School
Whitehill Drive, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 9RZ |
0.97 miles |
|
Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Old Durham Road, Beacon Lough, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6RZ |
1.02 miles |
|
The Cedars Academy
Ivy Lane, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 6QD |
1.05 miles |
|
Grace College
Saltwell Road South, Gateshead, NE9 6LE |
1.06 miles |
|
The Gateshead Cheder Primary School
Bede House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE8 3HY |
1.1 miles |
|
XP Gateshead
Swards Road, Felling, NE10 9UZ |
1.26 miles |
|
Ateres Girls High School
Willow Grove, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 9PQ |
1.27 miles |
|
Gateshead College
BALTIC CAMPUS, QUARRYFIELD ROAD, GATESHEAD, TYNE AND WEAR, NE8 3BE |
1.64 miles |
|
Hill Top School
Wealcroft, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 8LT |
1.67 miles |
|
Heworth Grange School
High Lanes, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 0PT |
1.75 miles |
|
North East Futures UTC
Stephenson Square, Stephenson Quarter, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE1 3AS |
1.83 miles |
|
Emmanuel College
Consett Road, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE11 0AN |
1.87 miles |
|
NCG
Rye Hill Campus, Scotswood Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE4 7SA |
2.06 miles |
|
Kingsmeadow Community School
Market Lane, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9NX |
2.36 miles |
|
Bahr Academy
72 Sceptre Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE4 6PR |
2.65 miles |
|
Royal Grammar School
Eskdale Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4DX |
2.8 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Academy
Mill Lane, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 2ET |
3.11 miles |
|
Newcastle High School for Girls GDST
|
3.14 miles |