Keelman's Way School

Keelman’s Way School is performing well, continuing to provide a nurturing environment where pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities thrive. The school is noted for its highly positive relationships between staff and pupils, exemplary behavior, and a strong personal development program that prepares pupils for adulthood through various activities, including work experience. While the school has high expectations and meets many of its pupils' complex needs effectively, some areas require attention, particularly in phonics instruction and adherence to teaching policies.

Strengths

• Nurturing environment promoting pupil welfare and safety.
• High expectations for all pupils.
• Strong personal development program.
• Effective pathways tailored to pupils' complex needs.
• Highly positive relationships between staff and pupils.
• Exceptional management of pupil behavior.
• Commitment of staff to the school's success.
• Effective support for pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent implementation of teaching policies and approaches.
• Insufficient time for phonics instruction leading to missed learning opportunities.

In 2024–25 pupils at Keelman's Way School attended 92.1% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 26.1% 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, 1.1% of pupils at Keelman's Way 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 Keelman's Way School had 8.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 4.1% 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 Keelman's Way School had 194 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; 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 Keelman's Way School received £27,367 and spent £26,852 for each of its 194 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £225,000 (£1,161 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 Hebburn · South Tyneside local authority: places and applications

What is Keelman's Way School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Keelman's Way School is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Keelman's Way School last inspected by Ofsted?

Keelman's Way School was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Keelman's Way School have?

Keelman's Way School has 194 pupils on roll.

What age range does Keelman's Way School cover?

Keelman's Way School for pupils aged 2 to 19.

What are Keelman's Way School's SATs (KS2) results?

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

Where is Keelman's Way School?

Keelman's Way School is at Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 1QY.