Dryden School
Dryden School is a community special school in Gateshead for pupils aged 11 to 18. It has 77 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Dryden School is Outstanding, from an inspection in February 2025.
Ofsted inspection: February 2025.
| Type | Special School / Community special school |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Does not apply |
| Address | Shotley Gardens Low Fell Gateshead Gateshead Tyne and Wear NE9 5UR |
| Phone | 01914203811 |
| Reference Number | 131200 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 77 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 66.23%
Girls: 33.77% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 57.4% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 13% |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| 8 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 9 | 12 | 6 | 18 |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| 11 | 7 | 5 | 12 |
| 12 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| 13 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 80.5% |
| Asian, Other | 5.2% |
| White, Other | 2.6% |
| White & Black (African) | 2.6% |
| Pakistani | 2.6% |
| Chinese | 1.3% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.3% |
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.
| 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.
In 2024–25 pupils at Dryden School attended 91.2% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 25.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 7.0% | 5.5% | 4.8% | 5.6% | 6.3% | 8.2% | 6.9% | 8.9% | 9.4% | 9.9% | 8.2% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.8% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Severely absent pupils | 3.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 3.0% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2.0% | 1.7% |
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, 0.0% of pupils at Dryden School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 2.0 | 1.9 | 5.6 | 15.4 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 4.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 Dryden School had 7.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 0.0% | 0.0% | 28.3% | 7.9% | 11.1% | 10.0% | 0.0% | 20.0% | 0.0% | 12.5% | 14.3% | 25.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 50.0% | 36.4% | 18.2% | 72.7% | 54.5% | 60.0% | 63.6% | 33.3% | 77.8% | – | 40.0% | 37.5% | 62.5% | 33.3% | 27.3% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 7.7 | 23.3 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 11.2 | – | 1.1 | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.5 | – |
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 Dryden School had 77 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).
It says it provides for: severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty.
Pupils by main type of need
| EHC plan | |
|---|---|
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 29 |
| Severe learning difficulty | 24 |
| Profound and multiple learning difficulty | 13 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 4 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 2 |
| Physical disability | 2 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 1 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 1 |
| Vision impairment | 1 |
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 Dryden School received £30,169 and spent £31,176 for each of its 77 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £165,000 (£2,138 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | -£31,000 | -£118,000 | -£15,000 | £99,000 | £165,000 | £242,000 | £165,000 |
| per pupil | -£710 | -£2,737 | -£85 | £1,793 | £2,898 | £3,411 | £2,138 |
| In-year balance | -£64,000 | -£87,000 | £103,000 | £114,000 | £67,000 | -£35,000 | -£78,000 |
| per pupil | -£1,479 | -£2,028 | £580 | £2,066 | £1,168 | -£490 | -£1,006 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| 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
The Dryden Centre, Evistones Rd, Gateshead, NE9 5UR |
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
Benwell Lane, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE15 6LX |
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 |
All schools in Gateshead · Gateshead local authority: places and applications
What is Dryden School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Dryden School is Outstanding, from an inspection in February 2025.
When was Dryden School last inspected by Ofsted?
Dryden School was last inspected in February 2025.
How many pupils does Dryden School have?
Dryden School has 77 pupils on roll.
What age range does Dryden School cover?
Dryden School for pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Dryden School?
Dryden School is at Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5UR.
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