Gibside School, Gateshead
Gibside School is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Gateshead. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2012)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Gibside School in detail
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Gibside School are Haskel School (0.4 miles, Outstanding); Dryden School (0.5 miles, Outstanding); Eslington Primary School (0.9 miles, Outstanding); and Furrowfield School (1.4 miles, Good).
Haskel SchoolDryden SchoolEslington Primary SchoolFurrowfield School
Who goes there
52.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 10.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Gibside School has an education, health and care plan (211 of 211 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Gibside School provides for pupils with autism, 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 0.8 miles away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Prince Consort Road - Shipcote Lane (se-bound), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Gibside School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 521 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, Gibside School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 October 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2012 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
52.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
Autism, SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 4% to 0% (2024 to 2025).
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Gibside School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Gibside School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Gibside 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
- 50
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 7
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 50 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 45 slight.
7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
8 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
117%
Over capacity
211 pupils
180 places
31 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(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
211
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Gibside School provides for pupils with autism, 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
211
Total Pupils
156
Boys
55
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
7.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,004
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.6%
Overall absence
20.2%
Persistent absence
193
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Gibside School
What are SATs results like at Gibside School?
Of the pupils at Gibside School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Gibside School's Ofsted rating?
Gibside School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2012, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Gibside School?
No fixed boundary. When Gibside School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Gibside School?
Gibside School has around 211 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Gibside School have specialist SEN provision?
Gibside School provides for pupils with autism, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Gibside School?
8.6% of sessions were missed at Gibside School in 2024/25. 20.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Gibside School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Gibside 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 Gibside School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 50 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 45 slight. 7 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 8 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 Gibside School?
Gibside School is at Shipcote Lane, Gateshead, NE8 4DE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)