Sir Charles Parsons School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Sir Charles Parsons School is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, part of The Newcastle Special Schools Trust. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sir Charles Parsons School in detail
Sir Charles Parsons School in its own words
In its own words: "We are a secondary special school situated in the east end of Newcastle upon Tyne. Our students come from all across the city of Newcastle. Each student is a unique individual who brings something different to the school community."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Sir Charles Parsons School are Keelman's Way School (1.6 miles, Good); Groundwork South and North Tyneside (1.7 miles, Good); Beacon Hill School (1.9 miles, Good); and Benton House School (2.3 miles).
Keelman's Way SchoolGroundwork South and North TynesideBeacon Hill SchoolBenton House School
The trust
Sir Charles Parsons School is one of 2 schools run by The Newcastle Special Schools Trust, an academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 33 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 33% to a further education college.
Who goes there
74.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 26.2% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (63%), Asian (17%) and Black (9%).
Almost every pupil at Sir Charles Parsons School has an education, health and care plan (214 of 214 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
Sir Charles Parsons School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Walkergate (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 900 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Albans Rc Primary School (sw-bound), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sir Charles Parsons 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, Sir Charles Parsons School issued 7 suspensions, 3.3 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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
This is a caring and inclusive school with a deep community spirit. The school values every pupil as an individual who has a special and unique talent. Staff show a passion and commitment to the pupils. Pupils are happy and safe here. They build strong and trusting relationships with each other and with staff.
The school has high expectations for what pupils can achieve. It has designed an ambitious, personalised curriculum that reflects those expectations. The school meets pupils' complex needs through skilful adaptation of the curriculum. Pupils benefit from high-quality teaching and support. This motivates pupils. It enables pupils to realise the school's high aspirations for them.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school has an ambitious and highly inclusive curriculum. It adapts the curriculum with skill and precision for pupils on different learning pathways. The school meets pupils' special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) very well. It meets these needs in a personalised and effective way. For example, some pupils access a sensory curriculum. Pupils at an early stage of language development benefit from the use of sight recognition and signing strategies. All pupils have access to therapeutic programmes. These include water-based therapy in the school's heated pool and movement therapy on trampolines.
The school has identified the essential knowledge and skills it wants pupils to secure. The curriculum is well sequenced. Pupils build their knowledge and skills in a progressive manner. This includes subject-specific knowledge, for example in mathematics, English and science. Pupils also learn about relationships, equality and diversity, and online safety. The school prepares pupils well for the next stage of their education and for life in modern Britain.
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 Outstanding at its March 2015 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
74.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SLD, PMLD
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Social & online
Keep up with Sir Charles Parsons School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sir Charles Parsons School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sir Charles Parsons School is in Newcastle upon Tyne; for families living there:
Apply to Newcastle upon Tyne for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 13 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
4 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 Newcastle upon Tyne is 23.5 (the median across 112 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
102%
Over capacity
214 pupils
210 places
4 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Across Newcastle upon Tyne council
Places available
2,560
Applications
2,594
Got 1st preference
79.0%
Got preferred school
93.4%
All secondary applications across Newcastle upon Tyne council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
214
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Sir Charles Parsons School provides for pupils with 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
214
Total Pupils
122
Boys
92
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
30
Teachers
7.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£54,775
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.4%
Overall absence
36.9%
Persistent absence
168
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
Sir Charles Parsons School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Sir Charles Parsons School
What is Sir Charles Parsons School's Ofsted rating?
Sir Charles Parsons School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Sir Charles Parsons School?
No fixed boundary. When Sir Charles Parsons School is oversubscribed, Newcastle upon Tyne allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Sir Charles Parsons School?
Sir Charles Parsons School has around 214 pupils on roll. 74% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Sir Charles Parsons School have specialist SEN provision?
Sir Charles Parsons School provides for pupils with severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties.
What is attendance like at Sir Charles Parsons School?
14.4% of sessions were missed at Sir Charles Parsons School in 2024/25. 36.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sir Charles Parsons School?
Apply through Newcastle upon Tyne's coordinated admissions process, naming Sir Charles Parsons 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 Sir Charles Parsons School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 13 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 4 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 Newcastle upon Tyne is 23.5 (the median across 112 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sir Charles Parsons School?
Sir Charles Parsons School is at Westbourne Avenue, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE6 4ED.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)