The Dales School, Blyth
The Dales School is a special school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Blyth. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2024 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Dales School in detail
The Dales School in its own words
In its own words: "The school has an automatic telephone recording system which records all phone calls made to, or from, the school using external lines. External callers will receive an automated message informing them of this fact. It is expected that access to calls will only be made under exceptional circumstances."
From the headteacher's welcome: "The Dales is a specialist primary school based on two sites: Blythdale in Blyth and Ashdale in Ashington. We provide education for children with a variety of additional needs that may not otherwise be met in a mainstream setting. We set out to make a difference to the learning, wellbeing and future life chances of children with additional needs."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Dales School are Gilbert Ward Academy (1.2 miles); The Apex Academy (1.8 miles); Cleaswell Hill School (3 miles, Outstanding); and Howard House School (3 miles, Good, selective).
Gilbert Ward AcademyThe Apex AcademyCleaswell Hill SchoolHoward House School
Who goes there
61% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 1.7% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Dales School has an education, health and care plan (236 of 236 in 2026). The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
The Dales School has a SEN unit for 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, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 230 places, 235 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blyth Bebside Rail Station, about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bebside Middle School (outside), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 101 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Northumberland (44), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Dales School issued 8 suspensions, 3.8 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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 October 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 Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its October 2013 inspection - up from Good.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
61.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
SEN unit: SpLD, Vision, Other +7
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Dales School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Dales School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Dales School is in Northumberland; for families living there:
Apply to Northumberland for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 17 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 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
103%
Over capacity
236 pupils
230 places
6 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Blyth
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Blyth
Across Northumberland council
Places available
2,104
Applications
1,819
Got 1st preference
96.0%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All secondary applications across Northumberland council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
236
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Dales School has a SEN unit for 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, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 230 places, 235 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
236
Total Pupils
174
Boys
62
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
38
Teachers
6.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,916
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.6%
Overall absence
19.7%
Persistent absence
198
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Linked Schools
Schools linked by geographic proximity
The Dales School
Questions parents ask about The Dales School
What are SATs results like at The Dales School?
Of the pupils at The Dales School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Dales School's Ofsted rating?
The Dales School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Dales School?
No fixed boundary. When The Dales School is oversubscribed, Northumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Dales School?
The Dales School has around 236 pupils on roll. 61% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Dales School have specialist SEN provision?
The Dales School has a SEN unit for 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, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 230 places, 235 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at The Dales School?
7.6% of sessions were missed at The Dales School in 2024/25. 19.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Dales School?
Apply through Northumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming The Dales 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 The Dales School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 2 serious and 17 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Dales School?
The Dales School is at Cowpen Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4RE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)