Strawberry Lane, Bowburn

Special

Other independent special school

Mixed

Ages 11–19

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

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Key Information

DfE GIAS

Head:Mr Adam Price

Pupils:26 / 60 capacity

LA:County Durham

Phone:01913371465

Website:strawberrylaneschool.co.uk

Address:Wylam Street, Bowburn, DH6 5BE

Area:Schools in DH6

Status:open

Opened:29 August 2025

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 3 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Exceptional

Strong

Expected

Needs Attention

Urgent

Achievement

Expected Standard

Behaviour

Strong Standard

Personal Development

Strong Standard

Leadership

Expected Standard

Inspected 23 June 2026View full report

URN:151727

Diocese:Not applicable

Constituency:Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor

Urban/Rural:Larger rural: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Strawberry Lane is designed specifically for pupils with SEND, offering personalised learning through three flexible curriculum pathways that adapt to individual needs. The school provides excellent adult-to-pupil ratios with small teaching groups of no more than six pupils, each supported by a teacher and two teaching assistants. Safety is prioritised through thorough safeguarding practices and daily PSHE lessons that teach pupils how to keep themselves safe, including online.

Key Strengths

Well-designed, broad curriculum with three pathways tailored to pupils' SEND needs and post-16 academic or vocational options
Strong focus on literacy, numeracy and early reading using DfE-recognised phonics programmes
Comprehensive safeguarding culture with trained designated leads and daily PSHE lessons to keep pupils safe
Small teaching groups (maximum 6 pupils) with dedicated teacher and two teaching assistants per group
High-quality premises including specialist immersion room for sensory needs and access to local leisure facilities

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is effective - the school has established an open and honest safeguarding culture with appropriately trained designated leads who understand the additional vulnerabilities of pupils with SEND, alongside planned staff training before opening and daily safeguarding education for pupils.

Extracurricular Activities

School council, work experience in key stage 4, careers education from key stage 3, fitness trail and gym equipment, local leisure centre access for physical education

Strawberry Lane is a proposed independent special school in Durham designed to meet the needs of pupils with SEND through flexible curriculum pathways and specialist support. The school is likely to meet all independent school standards when it opens.