River Tees Hospital School, Middlesbrough
River Tees Hospital School is an all-through school for pupils aged 5 to 18 in Middlesbrough, part of River Tees Multi-Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
River Tees Hospital School in detail
Getting a place at River Tees Hospital School
Across Middlesbrough, 84% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 96% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Middlesbrough lodged 88 appeals against secondary school offers; 78 reached a hearing and 6 succeeded (7.7% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to River Tees Hospital School are Lift Unity City (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.9); Outwood Academy Ormesby (1 mile, Inadequate, Attainment 8 36.1); Trinity Catholic College (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 42.7); and Outwood Academy Normanby (1.8 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 36.5).
Lift Unity CityOutwood Academy OrmesbyTrinity Catholic CollegeOutwood Academy Normanby
The trust
River Tees Hospital School is one of 5 schools run by River Tees Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at River Tees Hospital School has an education, health and care plan (9 of 9 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is James Cook Rail Station, about 590 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Frampton Green (a), 150 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood River Tees Hospital School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to River Tees Hospital School are Park End Primary School (0.2 miles); St Pius X Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.3 miles); Pallister Park Primary School (0.7 miles); and Berwick Hills Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Park End Primary SchoolSt Pius X Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary AcademyPallister Park Primary SchoolBerwick Hills Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils who attend River Tees Hospital School are supported to become confident individuals who have high aspirations for the future. All pupils come from a background where they have suffered trauma and/or significant illness. Before attending the school, many pupils have been absent from education for long periods of time. Others had previously found it difficult to access learning or had felt negative about education.
The school lives up to the staff mantra, 'We change lives'. Pupils grow academically and socially. Through a combination of holistic therapy and a bespoke curriculum offer, pupils flourish. They become enthusiastic learners, studying for qualifications such as GCSEs, and are supported to access a place in further education or employment. Regardless of whether a pupil is part of the school due to a short-term hospital stay, or a longer-term placement, staff offer effective support.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Many of the strengths of this school lie in the highly positive relationships that have been forged over time. The care and nurture shown by staff towards pupils is exceptional. Pupils learn to trust the adults and accept their guidance. Teachers have a wealth of subject knowledge and a rich experience of teaching pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They assess the gaps in pupils' prior learning accurately and plan an ambitious bespoke curriculum so that pupils can catch up quickly. Teachers use a wide range of strategies to engage pupils in their learning. They promote positive attitudes towards learning in lessons by demonstrating consistency in routines and expectations.
Pupils experience success and make significant progress in their studies. Those on short-term placements transition successfully back into their home school. Pupils who are in school for longer periods of time are supported to achieve nationally recognised qualifications.
From Ofsted's July 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its May 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
33.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby all-through schools
Keep up with River Tees Hospital School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to River Tees Hospital School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. River Tees Hospital School is in Middlesbrough; for families living there:
Apply to Middlesbrough for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Middlesbrough is 14 (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
15%
Available places
9 pupils
59 places
50 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Middlesbrough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Middlesbrough
Across Middlesbrough council
Places available
1,884
Applications
1,913
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Middlesbrough council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
9
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
9
Total Pupils
5
Boys
4
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
0.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,092
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
River Tees Hospital School
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about River Tees Hospital School
What is River Tees Hospital School's Ofsted rating?
River Tees Hospital School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in May 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for River Tees Hospital School?
No fixed boundary. When River Tees Hospital School is oversubscribed, Middlesbrough allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to River Tees Hospital School?
River Tees Hospital School has around 9 pupils on roll. 33% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to River Tees Hospital School?
Apply through Middlesbrough's coordinated admissions process, naming River Tees Hospital 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 River Tees Hospital School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 5 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Middlesbrough is 14 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is River Tees Hospital School?
River Tees Hospital School is at 170a Overdale Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 7EA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)