Dryden School, Gateshead
Dryden School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 18 in Gateshead. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Dryden School in detail
Dryden School in its own words
In its own words: "We enjoy and benefit from purpose built accommodation which includes a hydrotherapy pool, dedicated dining area, school hall, a catering kitchen within a food technology room, good ICT equipment in each classroom, horticulture area, light and sound room and much more. Our school roll currently has 71 students."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Dryden School are Gibside School (0.5 miles, Outstanding); Haskel School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); Furrowfield School (1 mile, Good); and The Cedars Academy (1 mile, Good).
Gibside SchoolHaskel SchoolFurrowfield SchoolThe Cedars Academy
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Dryden School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
54.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Dryden School has an education, health and care plan (77 of 77 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Dryden School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Gateshead Stadium (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dryden Road-Musgrave Road (s-bound), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 340 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 Gateshead (176), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
Dryden School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 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 January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Dryden excels at helping every pupil succeed by understanding their unique needs and tailoring support accordingly. Teachers skillfully integrate learning into every part of the school day, while staff provide expert emotional support to help pupils regulate their behavior and build confidence. The school has a warm, inclusive culture where pupils feel genuinely cared for, and older students are meaningfully involved in school life while preparing for their future.
Key Strengths
- Staff have very high expectations and pupils make excellent progress towards their personal targets
- Personalized support - the school deeply understands each pupil's individual needs and shares this information effectively with all staff
- Skilled teaching that weaves learning opportunities throughout the day, helping pupils develop communication, reading and motor skills
- Strong emotional support - staff quickly identify when pupils are struggling and help them develop coping strategies
- Excellent preparation for life after school, including work experience for sixth form students
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders prioritizing pupils' interests and creating an open, positive culture around safeguarding.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips to places of worship, swimming pool visits, weekly cafe for sixth form, work experience with local businesses, rebound therapy, gardening, animal care, bungalow activities for independence building
Dryden School is a truly exceptional place of calm and learning where pupils enjoy attending and make excellent progress towards their personal targets. The school has maintained its outstanding standards with staff having very high expectations of what pupils can achieve.
At a Glance
54.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Dryden School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Dryden School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Dryden School is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 21
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 16 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
5 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 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 - Gateshead
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Gateshead
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,288
Applications
1,850
Got 1st preference
87.1%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
77
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Dryden School provides for pupils with 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
77
Total Pupils
51
Boys
26
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
7.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,313
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.8%
Overall absence
25.4%
Persistent absence
59
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
Dryden School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Dryden School
What is Dryden School's Ofsted rating?
Dryden School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Dryden School?
No fixed boundary. When Dryden School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Dryden School?
Dryden School has around 77 pupils on roll. 55% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Dryden School have specialist SEN provision?
Dryden School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Dryden School?
8.8% of sessions were missed at Dryden School in 2024/25. 25.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Dryden School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Dryden 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 Dryden School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 21 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 16 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 5 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Dryden School?
Dryden School is at Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE9 5UR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)