Abbey Hill Academy, Stockton-on-Tees
Abbey Hill Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Stockton-on-Tees, part of Horizons Specialist Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Abbey Hill Academy in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Abbey Hill Academy are Kiora Hall (0.6 miles, Good); Green Gates Academy (0.9 miles, Good); King Edwin School (1.7 miles, Good); and Elmbank Learning Centre (1.9 miles, Outstanding).
Kiora HallGreen Gates AcademyKing Edwin SchoolElmbank Learning Centre
The trust
Abbey Hill Academy is one of 8 schools run by Horizons Specialist Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
25 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Abbey Hill Academy (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 54 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 7% to a further education college.
Who goes there
49.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (87%) and Asian (7%).
Almost every pupil at Abbey Hill Academy has an education, health and care plan (371 of 371 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Abbey Hill Academy provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Stockton Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Nightingale Drive (a), 210 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Abbey Hill Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 433 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Stockton-on-Tees (204), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Abbey Hill Academy issued 8 suspensions, 2.2 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from June 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Abbey Hill provides exceptional care and support for children with a range of learning needs. Staff have high expectations and use a kind, calm approach that helps pupils behave brilliantly and feel happy at school. The school does outstanding work preparing older pupils for life beyond school through work placements, careers fairs, and college visits.
Key Strengths
- Exemplary behaviour in lessons and social times, with staff using a calm, relational approach to manage behaviour effectively
- Ambitious, well-sequenced curriculum with three tailored pathways that accurately match individual pupil needs
- Strong focus on preparation for adult life with extensive work experience, careers programme, and residential visits that develop independence
- Excellent teaching of reading using phonics with precision, and pupils are confident readers
- Pupils learn effective communication strategies and all develop the ability to express their needs and feelings
Areas for Improvement
- School does not record follow-up actions for behaviour incidents consistently, making it difficult to identify trends over time or check how well incidents have been resolved
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, ensuring pupils are safe and supported appropriately.
Extracurricular Activities
Swimming, judo, ice-skating, horticulture, woodland exploration, work placements, summer fair, residential visits, breakfast club, after-school clubs, careers fairs
Abbey Hill Academy is a special school that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. Pupils learn, grow and achieve with support from skilled staff who care deeply for them and have high expectations.
At a Glance
49.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
25 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Abbey Hill Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Abbey Hill Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Abbey Hill Academy is in Stockton-on-Tees; for families living there:
Apply to Stockton-on-Tees for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Stockton-on-Tees is 9 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
371 pupils
357 places
14 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Stockton-on-Tees
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Stockton-on-Tees
Across Stockton-on-Tees council
Places available
2,586
Applications
2,216
Got 1st preference
94.8%
Got preferred school
99.5%
All secondary applications across Stockton-on-Tees council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
371
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Abbey Hill Academy provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
371
Total Pupils
266
Boys
105
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
57
Teachers
6.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,280
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.9%
Overall absence
24.8%
Persistent absence
294
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Abbey Hill Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Abbey Hill Academy
What are GCSE results like at Abbey Hill Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Abbey Hill Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.3. 1% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Abbey Hill Academy's Ofsted rating?
Abbey Hill Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Abbey Hill Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Abbey Hill Academy is oversubscribed, Stockton-on-Tees allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Abbey Hill Academy?
Abbey Hill Academy has around 371 pupils on roll. 49% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Abbey Hill Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Abbey Hill Academy provides for pupils with autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Abbey Hill Academy?
9.9% of sessions were missed at Abbey Hill Academy in 2024/25. 24.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Abbey Hill Academy?
Apply through Stockton-on-Tees's coordinated admissions process, naming Abbey Hill Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Abbey Hill Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 10 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 2 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Stockton-on-Tees is 9 (the median across 87 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Abbey Hill Academy?
Abbey Hill Academy is at Ketton Road, Hardwick Estate, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 8BU.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)