Bishopton PRU, Stockton-on-Tees

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Bishopton PRU on 6 areas: 6 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "Pupils do not achieve well, including the high proportion of pupils who have special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Attendance and behaviour - Urgent improvement. "Pupils' rates of attendance are low and have remained so over time."

Curriculum and teaching - Urgent improvement. "Leaders do not ensure that learning is adapted well enough to support pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities."

Inclusion - Urgent improvement. "There are significant weaknesses in the school's approach in supporting pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "The trust is not meeting its statutory responsibilities for educating pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or for safeguarding."

Personal development and wellbeing - Urgent improvement. "A significant number of pupils do not benefit from the school's personal development offer due to high levels of absence."

Safeguarding standards were NOT met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "The trust must ensure that leaders have the capacity, and the necessary knowledge and expertise, to lead a pupil referral unit. It must ensure that the school has sufficient resources to operate effectively, including appropriate staffing"; "Leaders must review the provision for pupils who are educated off site to ensure that the safeguarding arrangement for these pupils are effective"; "Leaders must develop appropriate safeguarding systems to ensure that pupils feel safe enough to come to school and that, when not in school, leaders can assure themselves that pupils are safe and well"; "Leaders must develop effective processes to assure themselves that agreed policies and the school's curriculum are enacted as intended"; "Leaders must ensure that staff have the knowledge and expertise needed to adapt the curriculum so that all pupils can access their learning. For pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, leaders must make sure that staff deliver the educational provision outlined in pupils' education, health and care plans, or in their individual support plans, effectively"; "Leaders must continue their work to improve pupils' attendance, including gaining an understanding of why pupils do not attend school and removing these barriers"; "Leaders must ensure that all pupils receive their full curriculum entitlement and access rich personal development experiences, including pupils' entitlement to careers education"; "Leaders should continue to broaden the range of qualifications offered, so that pupils are prepared well for their next stage in education, training or employment".

In its own words: "Bishopton PRU is a complex Pupil Referral Unit offering educational provision to KS3 and KS4 pupils who are at risk of exclusion, permanent exclusion from school or those not attending mainstream school for other reasons such as illness (physical and/or psychological). The centre also brokers alternative vocational provision for pupils who remain solely on the role of mainstream schools."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Bishopton Centre, where we are proud to work collaboratively to ensure every student makes progress, enjoys learning and develops skills for life. We provide a safe, nurturing learning environment for students to support them to maximise their potential. Each student has a unique pathway, which may involve a well-planned transition back to mainstream, or a differentiated route."

The school runs a breakfast club.

Across Stockton-on-Tees, 95% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 100% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Stockton-on-Tees lodged 34 appeals against secondary school offers; 22 reached a hearing and 10 succeeded (45.5% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to Bishopton PRU are St Michael's Catholic Academy (0.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); Northfield School and Sports College (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.8); North Shore Academy (3.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 44.9); and Manor Community Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.3).

Bishopton PRU is one of 3 schools run by Atomix Educational Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 19 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 32% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 32% to a further education college.

68.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 46 pupils (73%) received SEN support and 17 (27%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Bishopton PRU provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Billingham Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is The Merlin (b), 200 metres away.

The primary schools closest to Bishopton PRU are Oakdene Primary Academy (0.2 miles), St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), Bewley Primary School (0.5 miles) and Roseberry Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.