Gibside School

Gibside School is a special school where all pupils have an education, health and care plan, mainly for autism, with some pupils having physical disabilities, severe learning difficulties or profound and multiple learning difficulties. This full inspection took place in September 2026, after a new headteacher had been appointed. Safeguarding standards are met. The school is strong in attendance and behaviour and in inclusion, and it is fulfilling expected standards in achievement, curriculum and teaching, early years, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing.

Strengths

• Staff know pupils very well and use consistent pastoral support to help them stay calm and settled.
• Pupils are happy, feel safe and valued, and behave politely and respectfully.
• Bullying and discrimination are not present, and relationships across the school are warm and positive.
• Attendance is high, including for pupils with significant medical needs.
• Inclusion is a long-standing strength, with barriers identified quickly and support closely tailored to individuals.
• Family support workers build effective relationships with families and help pupils attend and feel understood.
• Leaders work well with health and other outside agencies to shape effective support.
• The curriculum is carefully tailored to individual needs and pathways, with therapies integrated well.
• Pupils achieve well from their individual starting points and are prepared for next steps in life.
• The personal development programme is broad, inclusive and enriched by sport, trips and leadership opportunities.

Areas for Improvement

• Early years developments are not yet fully embedded, particularly in how the environment is used to build children's independence and vocabulary.
• Assessment in classrooms, including sensory targets, needs to continue developing so it has an even greater impact on pupils' progress and attainment.
• Leaders need to enact plans to further develop the breadth and impact of the personal development programme.

In 2024–25 pupils at Gibside School attended 91.4% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.2% 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, 0.5% of pupils at Gibside School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). No pupils were 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 Gibside School had 7.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 13.3% 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 Gibside School had 211 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; autistic spectrum disorder.

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 Gibside School received £30,251 and spent £29,870 for each of its 211 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £138,000 (£653 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 Gibside School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Gibside School is Expected standard, from an inspection in October 2026.

When was Gibside School last inspected by Ofsted?

Gibside School was last inspected in October 2026.

How many pupils does Gibside School have?

Gibside School has 211 pupils on roll.

What age range does Gibside School cover?

Gibside School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

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

Where is Gibside School?

Gibside School is at Shipcote Lane, Gateshead, NE8 4DE.