Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy, Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy is a special school for pupils aged 3 to 19 in Saltburn-by-the-Sea. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2022.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2022)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy in detail
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy (KTS Academy) is located in a semi-rural location of East Cleveland in the village of Brotton. KTS Academy is a 4-19 generic special provision for pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plans which states a learning difficulty or disability."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy are Riverstone Academy (1.8 miles); and Invested Education (3.3 miles, Good).
Where pupils go next
Of the 13 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 100% stayed in education or training for at least two terms.
Who goes there
45.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 4.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy has an education, health and care plan (189 of 197 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Saltburn Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chestnut Grove (b), 350 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 49 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Redcar and Cleveland (174).
Suspensions and exclusions
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy 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 · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its May 2022 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years, Sixth form.
At a Glance
45.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby schools
Keep up with Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy is in Redcar and Cleveland; for families living there:
Apply to Redcar and Cleveland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Redcar and Cleveland is 8 (the median across 66 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
116%
Over capacity
197 pupils
170 places
27 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Across Redcar and Cleveland council
Places available
1,672
Applications
1,452
Got 1st preference
93.0%
Got preferred school
97.5%
All secondary applications across Redcar and Cleveland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
189
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
197
Total Pupils
144
Boys
53
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
12.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,997
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.2%
Overall absence
29.1%
Persistent absence
141
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
Questions parents ask about Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy
What are SATs results like at Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
Of the pupils at Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy was rated Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection in May 2022.
What is the catchment area for Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy is oversubscribed, Redcar and Cleveland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy has around 197 pupils on roll. 46% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
8.2% of sessions were missed at Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy in 2024/25. 29.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
Apply through Redcar and Cleveland's coordinated admissions process, naming Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy 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 Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Redcar and Cleveland is 8 (the median across 66 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy?
Kilton Thorpe Specialist Academy is at Marshall Drive, Brotton, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, TS12 2UW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)