Keelman's Way School, Hebburn
Keelman's Way School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Hebburn, part of South Tyneside Co-Operative Special School Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in April 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Keelman's Way School in detail
Keelman's Way School in its own words
In its own words: "At Keelman’s Way School we work together to provide a stimulating environment to ensure our pupils achieve to the best of their ability. We understand that all pupils are unique and we empower them to achieve independence and success in the wider world."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Keelman's Way School are Groundwork South and North Tyneside (0.7 miles, Good); Sir Charles Parsons School (1.6 miles, Outstanding); Silverdale School (2.3 miles); and Silverdale School (2.3 miles, Good).
Groundwork South and North TynesideSir Charles Parsons SchoolSilverdale SchoolSilverdale School
The trust
Keelman's Way School is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 8 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
55.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (86%) and Mixed (6%).
Almost every pupil at Keelman's Way School has an education, health and care plan (194 of 194 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Keelman's Way School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Hebburn (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 760 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria Road West - Hebburn Baths (e-bound), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Keelman's Way School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Keelman's Way School issued 2 suspensions, 1.1 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 · 3 years agoThis judgement is from January 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 January 2014 inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
55.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SpLD, Vision, Other +8
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Keelman's Way School
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Keelman's Way School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Keelman's Way School is in South Tyneside; for families living there:
Apply to South Tyneside for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 16
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 15 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 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
113%
Over capacity
194 pupils
171 places
23 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hebburn
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hebburn
Across South Tyneside council
Places available
1,804
Applications
1,548
Got 1st preference
89.2%
Got preferred school
96.9%
All secondary applications across South Tyneside council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
194
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Keelman's Way School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, 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
194
Total Pupils
142
Boys
52
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
26
Teachers
7.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,266
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.9%
Overall absence
26.1%
Persistent absence
142
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
Keelman's Way School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Keelman's Way School
What are GCSE results like at Keelman's Way School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Keelman's Way School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 2.9. 5% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Keelman's Way School's Ofsted rating?
Keelman's Way School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Keelman's Way School?
No fixed boundary. When Keelman's Way School is oversubscribed, South Tyneside allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Keelman's Way School?
Keelman's Way School has around 194 pupils on roll. 56% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Keelman's Way School have specialist SEN provision?
Keelman's Way School provides for pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Keelman's Way School?
7.9% of sessions were missed at Keelman's Way School in 2024/25. 26.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Keelman's Way School?
Apply through South Tyneside's coordinated admissions process, naming Keelman's Way 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 Keelman's Way School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 16 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 15 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 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 South Tyneside is 13 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Keelman's Way School?
Keelman's Way School is at Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 1QY.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)