Hill Top School, Gateshead
Hill Top School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Gateshead. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Hill Top School in detail
Hill Top School in its own words
In its own words: "In the Autism Centre within Hill Top, we cater for pupils with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder, who need autism specific teaching approaches, to help them access the curriculum and make progress, in all areas."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Hill Top School are Furrowfield School (0.7 miles, Good); The Cedars Academy (1.4 miles, Good); Dryden School (1.7 miles, Outstanding); and Gibside School (2.1 miles, Outstanding).
Furrowfield SchoolThe Cedars AcademyDryden SchoolGibside School
Where pupils go next
Of the 18 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 28% to a further education college.
Who goes there
62.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 13.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Hill Top School has an education, health and care plan (127 of 127 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Hill Top School provides for pupils with autism.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Heworth (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Staneway-Wealcroft (nw-bound), 160 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Hill Top 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
Hill Top School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2014, 12 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 October 2014 inspection - down from Outstanding.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
62.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
Autism
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Hill Top School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Hill Top School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Hill Top 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
- 12
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt.
1 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
106%
Over capacity
127 pupils
120 places
7 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
127
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Hill Top School provides for pupils with autism.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
127
Total Pupils
91
Boys
36
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
5.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,086
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.7%
Overall absence
20.8%
Persistent absence
120
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
Hill Top School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Hill Top School
What are GCSE results like at Hill Top School?
In the 2023 results, pupils at Hill Top School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 1.4 and a Progress 8 score of -1.68, well below the national average. 5% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Hill Top School's Ofsted rating?
Hill Top School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Hill Top School?
No fixed boundary. When Hill Top School is oversubscribed, Gateshead allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Hill Top School?
Hill Top School has around 127 pupils on roll. 62% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Hill Top School have specialist SEN provision?
Hill Top School provides for pupils with autism.
What is attendance like at Hill Top School?
7.7% of sessions were missed at Hill Top School in 2024/25. 20.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Hill Top School?
Apply through Gateshead's coordinated admissions process, naming Hill Top 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 Hill Top School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 12 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 11 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt. 1 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 Hill Top School?
Hill Top School is at Wealcroft, Felling, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE10 8LT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)