Bamburgh School, South Shields
Bamburgh School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 16 in South Shields. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bamburgh School in detail
Bamburgh School in its own words
In its own words: "The overall aim of the school is to allow each pupil to develop his/her full potential, not only academically, but as independent citizens, in a positive, caring and supportive environment. Our commitment to both meeting needs and measuring progress holistically is reflected in the school mission statement above."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Bamburgh School are Park View School (1.2 miles, Good); Epinay Business and Enterprise School (1.7 miles, Outstanding); Southlands School (3.2 miles, Good); and Silverdale School (4.1 miles).
Park View SchoolEpinay Business and Enterprise SchoolSouthlands SchoolSilverdale School
What parents say
19 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Bamburgh School (as of September 2025): 90% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school supports their child's wider development (95%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (63%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 25 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 96% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 52% to a further education college.
Who goes there
55.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Bamburgh School has an education, health and care plan (223 of 223 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Bamburgh School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Chichester (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cheviot Road-Norham Avenue North (s-bound), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Bamburgh School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Bamburgh School issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and 1 permanent exclusion.
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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from December 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils flourish at Bamburgh School. Warm, respectful relationships underpin the high-quality education that pupils receive. Pupils' journey from early years to key stage 4 is meticulously planned out. Everyone unites to ensure pupils secure their aspirational next steps.
Children in the early years approach learning with tangible enthusiasm. Skilful staff ensure children quickly learn the routines of the setting. Children's play is expertly crafted. It supports the targets in children's education, health and care (EHC) plans with precision. The curriculum is detailed and purposeful. It contributes exceptionally well to children's learning and progress.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Bamburgh School sets exceptionally high standards for pupils' learning. Pupils rise to this challenge with pride. The school ensures learning is expertly matched to pupils' needs. Pupils can recall important knowledge from the curriculum in impressive ways. For example, pupils enthusiastically discuss alliances in the First World War in history. Pupils draw upon their prior learning about relationships between significant historical leaders. This recall helps pupils connect new learning in a sophisticated way. Teachers' questions encourage pupils to think hard. Pupils develop a deep body of knowledge over time.
Children in the early years have a range of complex needs. Staff make sure they understand these needs before children start school. Therefore, children get off to a flying start. The consistent approach between staff in the setting is striking. Alongside specialists, all staff target children's communication needs. This helps children make rapid progress in many ways. Staff also work closely with parents and carers. They support parents to meet their children's needs beyond the classroom. Children delight in the well-chosen activities that staff provide. They quickly learn routines through songs and repetition. Children are well prepared for their next stage.
From Ofsted's September 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its December 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
55.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Hearing +5
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
19 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 0% to 7% (2024 to 2025), while writing has improved from 0% to 7% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Bamburgh School
Why We Think Bamburgh is Brilliant!
2 Jun 2026
Match Day Mascots
24 Mar 2026
Sage UK Volunteers continue to make a difference
24 Sep 2025
Jessica is offically an Unsung Hero
24 Sep 2025
Sage Volunteers Making a Difference
6 May 2025
Red Nose Day
11 Apr 2025
From Bamburgh School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Bamburgh School
Before and after school care
Bamburgh School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in South Tyneside
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bamburgh School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bamburgh School is in South Tyneside; for families living there:
Apply to South Tyneside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 12
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 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
Area Demand Pressure - South Shields
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for South Shields
Across South Tyneside council
Places available
1,804
Applications
1,548
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
96.9%
All secondary applications across South Tyneside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(9)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
223
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Bamburgh School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
223
Total Pupils
143
Boys
80
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
28
Teachers
8.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,166
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.6%
Overall absence
24.0%
Persistent absence
221
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
Bamburgh School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Bamburgh School
What are GCSE results like at Bamburgh School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Bamburgh School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 7.8. 4% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Bamburgh School's Ofsted rating?
Bamburgh School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bamburgh School?
No fixed boundary. When Bamburgh School is oversubscribed, South Tyneside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Bamburgh School?
Bamburgh School has around 223 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Bamburgh School have specialist SEN provision?
Bamburgh School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Bamburgh School?
7.6% of sessions were missed at Bamburgh School in 2024/25. 24% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bamburgh School?
Apply through South Tyneside's coordinated admissions process, naming Bamburgh School 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.
Does Bamburgh School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Bamburgh School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near Bamburgh School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 8 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bamburgh School?
Bamburgh School is at Norham Avenue, South Shields, Tyne and Wear, NE34 7TD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)