Furrowfield School, Gateshead
Furrowfield School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Gateshead. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in April 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in November 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Furrowfield School in detail
Furrowfield School in its own words
In its own words: "The Furrowfield Way is at the heart of everything we do and underpins all aspects of school life, including teaching, learning, behaviour and relationships. It reflects our shared commitment to improving life chances for all students by developing key characteristics that support both academic success and personal development. These characteristics are embedded consistently across all areas of school life."
From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a privilege to lead a school where every young person is valued, supported and empowered to succeed. At Furrowfield School, we are committed to improving life chances for all of our students through a highly personalised, inclusive and therapeutic approach to education."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, badminton, swimming, chess, gardening and philosophy.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Furrowfield School are Hill Top School (0.7 miles, Good); Dryden School (1 mile, Outstanding); The Cedars Academy (1.1 miles, Good); and Gibside School (1.4 miles, Outstanding).
Hill Top SchoolDryden SchoolThe Cedars AcademyGibside School
Where pupils go next
Of the 12 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 50% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 50% to a further education college.
Who goes there
74.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Furrowfield School has an education, health and care plan (101 of 101 in 2026). The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Furrowfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Felling (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1 mile away in a straight line.
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Furrowfield Estate (s-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 315 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Furrowfield School issued 90 suspensions, 100 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from April 2013, 13 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 April 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
74.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEMH
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Furrowfield School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Furrowfield School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Furrowfield 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
- 4
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 1
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, 1 serious and 2 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
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 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
School Occupancy
133%
Over capacity
101 pupils
76 places
25 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
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
101
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Furrowfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
101
Total Pupils
82
Boys
19
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
23
Teachers
4.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,606
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
26.8%
Overall absence
63.5%
Persistent absence
96
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
Furrowfield School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Furrowfield School
What are GCSE results like at Furrowfield School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Furrowfield School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 7.6. 0% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Furrowfield School's Ofsted rating?
Furrowfield School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in April 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Furrowfield School?
No fixed boundary. When Furrowfield School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Furrowfield School?
Furrowfield School has around 101 pupils on roll. 74% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Furrowfield School have specialist SEN provision?
Furrowfield School provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs.
What is attendance like at Furrowfield School?
26.8% of sessions were missed at Furrowfield School in 2024/25. 63.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Furrowfield School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Furrowfield 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 Furrowfield School?
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, 1 serious and 2 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Furrowfield School?
Furrowfield School is at Whitehill Drive, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 9RZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)