Hartlepool Free School, Hartlepool
Hartlepool Free School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Hartlepool, part of Make It Different.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hartlepool Free School in detail
Hartlepool Free School in its own words
In its own words: "Make It Different Trust has been established, initially to operate the new Hartlepool SEMH Free School (HFS) to establish a blueprint of the highest quality SEMH provision. We are an outward-looking Trust, intent on ensuring our work improves the lives of the children, families, and community we serve."
From the headteacher's welcome: "If you'd like to learn more about our school or arrange a visit, please don't hesitate to reach out via our ' Contact Us ' page - we're always happy to answer any questions. At Hartlepool Free School, we are dedicated to making a difference for every student."
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 Hartlepool Free School are Cambian Hartlepool School (0.3 miles, Good); Catcote Academy (1.6 miles, Good); Springwell School (2.8 miles); and Wrenfield Learning Centre (2.8 miles, Good).
Cambian Hartlepool SchoolCatcote AcademySpringwell SchoolWrenfield Learning Centre
The trust
Hartlepool Free School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Who goes there
78.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 0% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (94%) and Mixed (6%).
In 2026, 2 pupils (6.1%) received SEN support and 31 (93.9%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Seaton Carew Rail Station, about 850 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Primary School (a), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hartlepool Free School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Hartlepool Free School issued 143 suspensions, 752.6 for every 100 pupils, and 2 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
No inspection data available
At a Glance
78.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Latest from Hartlepool Free School
Curriculum Newsletter - Half Term 1 - 2026-2027
14 Sep 2026
Newsletter - End of the Year 2025/2026
20 Jul 2026
Autumn 1 Newsletter
17 Oct 2025
From Hartlepool Free School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with Hartlepool Free School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hartlepool Free School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hartlepool Free School is in Hartlepool; for families living there:
Apply to Hartlepool for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
3 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 Hartlepool is 11 (the median across 43 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
52%
Available places
33 pupils
64 places
31 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hartlepool
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hartlepool
Across Hartlepool council
Places available
1,207
Applications
1,061
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Hartlepool council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
31
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
33
Total Pupils
30
Boys
3
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
3.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£59,947
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
41.7%
Overall absence
95.7%
Persistent absence
23
Enrolments
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
Hartlepool Free School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hartlepool Free School
What is the catchment area for Hartlepool Free School?
No fixed boundary. When Hartlepool Free School is oversubscribed, Hartlepool allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hartlepool Free School?
Hartlepool Free School has around 33 pupils on roll. 79% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Hartlepool Free School?
41.7% of sessions were missed at Hartlepool Free School in 2024/25. 95.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hartlepool Free School?
Apply through Hartlepool's coordinated admissions process, naming Hartlepool Free 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 Hartlepool Free School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 3 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 Hartlepool is 11 (the median across 43 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Hartlepool Free School?
Hartlepool Free School is at Hedgehog Lane, Hartlepool, TS25 1FF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)