Benton Dene School, Newcastle upon Tyne
Benton Dene School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Newcastle upon Tyne, part of The North Tyneside Learning Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Benton Dene School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Benton Dene School are Percy Hedley Hedleys College (0.3 miles, Good); Benton House School (0.7 miles); Percy Hedley School (0.7 miles, Outstanding); and Beacon Hill School (1.8 miles, Good).
Percy Hedley Hedleys CollegeBenton House SchoolPercy Hedley SchoolBeacon Hill School
The trust
Benton Dene School is one of 31 schools run by The North Tyneside Learning Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
48.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 5.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Benton Dene School has an education, health and care plan (139 of 139 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Benton Dene School provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Benton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Benton Estate (s-bound), 280 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Benton Dene School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its March 2017 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
48.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, MLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 13% to 0% (2024 to 2025), while maths has declined from 4% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Benton Dene School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Benton Dene School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Benton Dene School is in North Tyneside; for families living there:
Apply to North 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
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle.
3 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 North Tyneside is 12 (the median across 84 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 - Newcastle upon Tyne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newcastle upon Tyne
Across North Tyneside council
Places available
1,743
Applications
1,685
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
94.4%
All secondary applications across North Tyneside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
139
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Benton Dene School provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
139
Total Pupils
102
Boys
37
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
6.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,918
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.7%
Overall absence
11.7%
Persistent absence
120
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
Questions parents ask about Benton Dene School
What are SATs results like at Benton Dene School?
Of the pupils at Benton Dene School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Benton Dene School's Ofsted rating?
Benton Dene School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Benton Dene School?
No fixed boundary. When Benton Dene School is oversubscribed, North Tyneside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Benton Dene School?
Benton Dene School has around 139 pupils on roll. 49% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Benton Dene School have specialist SEN provision?
Benton Dene School provides for pupils with autism and moderate learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Benton Dene School?
5.7% of sessions were missed at Benton Dene School in 2024/25. 11.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Benton Dene School?
Apply through North Tyneside's coordinated admissions process, naming Benton Dene 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.
How many road collisions happen near Benton Dene School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 on a bicycle. 3 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 North Tyneside is 12 (the median across 84 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Benton Dene School?
Benton Dene School is at Hailsham Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE12 8FD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)