The Oaks Secondary School

The Oaks Secondary School continues to demonstrate outstanding performance, reflecting a commitment to high standards and individual care for all pupils. The school effectively manages a diverse range of special educational needs and disabilities, ensuring that each pupil receives tailored support through a highly specialized curriculum. Parents express significant satisfaction with the school's environment, highlighting the strong relationships forged between staff and pupils and the positive behaviour exhibited by students.

Strengths

• Pupils flourish due to strong, caring relationships with staff.
• The school's curriculum is highly ambitious and well-adapted to meet individual needs.
• Excellent personal development opportunities, including cultural and enrichment activities.
• Strong support for pupil well-being through various strategies and tailored programs.
• Effective preparation for students' next steps, including work experience and careers guidance.
• Extensive safeguarding training and robust procedures ensure pupil safety.

In 2024–25 pupils at The Oaks Secondary School attended 92.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 20.9% 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, 2.0% of pupils at The Oaks Secondary 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 The Oaks Secondary School had 9.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 3.9% 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 The Oaks Secondary School had 349 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; severe learning difficulty; profound and multiple learning difficulty; social, emotional and mental health; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment; vision impairment; multi-sensory impairment; physical disability; 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 The Oaks Secondary School received £23,962 and spent £23,212 for each of its 349 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £391,000 (£1,120 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).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Spennymoor · County Durham local authority: places and applications

What is The Oaks Secondary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Oaks Secondary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2023.

When was The Oaks Secondary School last inspected by Ofsted?

The Oaks Secondary School was last inspected in June 2023.

How many pupils does The Oaks Secondary School have?

The Oaks Secondary School has 349 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Oaks Secondary School cover?

The Oaks Secondary School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

Where is The Oaks Secondary School?

The Oaks Secondary School is at Rock Road, Spennymoor, DL16 7DB.