Collingwood School & Media Arts College, Morpeth
Collingwood School & Media Arts College is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Morpeth. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Collingwood School & Media Arts College in detail
Collingwood School & Media Arts College in its own words
In its own words: "We believe in entitlement for all. All pupils and students of Collingwood should be allowed to explore and celebrate their talents; they should be stretched and challenged; and should be prepared for the next stages of their lives. Collingwood works on the principles of victory, heroism and humanity."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming school with a strong emphasis on pastoral care alongside a rigorous academic education tailored to the needs of the individual. Every pupil has the opportunity to succeed and flourish, whilst bein g thoroughly prepared for adulthood. I look forward to meeting you and working together."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Collingwood School & Media Arts College are Howard House School (2.4 miles, Good, selective); Cleaswell Hill School (3 miles, Outstanding); Gust Independent School (4.2 miles, Good); and Rosewood Independent School (4.3 miles, Good).
Howard House SchoolCleaswell Hill SchoolGust Independent SchoolRosewood Independent School
What parents say
23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Collingwood School & Media Arts College (as of September 2025): 78% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 63% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (87%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (63%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 46 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college.
Who goes there
50.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0.6% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Collingwood School & Media Arts College has an education, health and care plan (337 of 337 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Collingwood School & Media Arts College has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 350 places, 342 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Railway station, about 700 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Green Lane (wb), 170 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Collingwood School & Media Arts College stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
Collingwood School & Media Arts College recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 January 2020, 6 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
Sixth Form
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school has improved significantly.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Collingwood celebrates every pupil's achievements and creates an environment where children feel truly valued and understood. The school offers an impressive range of opportunities beyond the classroom - from performing in productions with industry experts to growing food and learning about work - that develop independence and real-world skills. Staff are highly skilled at understanding each child's individual needs and providing the right support, so pupils progress academically and pastorally.
Key Strengths
- Pupils thrive in a welcoming, caring environment where they feel valued and safe
- Well-designed curriculum with clear academic and vocational pathways matched to individual pupil needs
- Exceptional behaviour throughout school, with strong emotional regulation support
- Rich enrichment opportunities including media production, horticultural projects, and work placements with local businesses
- Effective teaching of reading and timely interventions to support all learners
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Media production, horticultural projects, public performances and shows with industry experts, enterprise projects, work placements with local businesses, safeguarding champion roles, greenhouse responsibilities
Collingwood School & Media Arts College is a special school for pupils aged 2-19 with a range of learning needs, including autism and neurodivergent diagnoses. Evidence suggests the school's work has improved significantly since its last graded inspection in January 2020.
At a Glance
50.4%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Speech and language, Autism, SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
23 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 declined from 18% to 0% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 12% to 0% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 6% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Collingwood School & Media Arts College
Before and after school care
Collingwood School & Media Arts College 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 Northumberland
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Collingwood School & Media Arts College from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Collingwood School & Media Arts College is in Northumberland; for families living there:
Apply to Northumberland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 4
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 0 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
0 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 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
96%
Near capacity
337 pupils
350 places
13 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Morpeth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Morpeth
Across Northumberland council
Places available
2,104
Applications
1,819
Got 1st preference
96.0%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Northumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
Ungraded inspection: The school has improved significantly.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
337
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Collingwood School & Media Arts College has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 350 places, 342 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
337
Total Pupils
234
Boys
103
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
46
Teachers
7.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,288
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
17.6%
Overall absence
40.1%
Persistent absence
289
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
Questions parents ask about Collingwood School & Media Arts College
What are GCSE results like at Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Collingwood School & Media Arts College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.9. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Collingwood School & Media Arts College's Ofsted rating?
Collingwood School & Media Arts College's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
No fixed boundary. When Collingwood School & Media Arts College is oversubscribed, Northumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
Collingwood School & Media Arts College has around 337 pupils on roll. 50% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Collingwood School & Media Arts College have specialist SEN provision?
Collingwood School & Media Arts College has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs, autism and social, emotional and mental health needs: 350 places, 342 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
17.6% of sessions were missed at Collingwood School & Media Arts College in 2024/25. 40.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
Apply through Northumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming Collingwood School & Media Arts College 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 Collingwood School & Media Arts College have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Collingwood School & Media Arts College 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 Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 4 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 3 serious and 0 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 0 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Collingwood School & Media Arts College?
Collingwood School & Media Arts College is at Stobhillgate, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2HA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)