The Grove Special School, Berwick-upon-Tweed
The Grove Special School is a special school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Berwick-upon-Tweed. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2015. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2015)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Grove Special School in detail
The Grove Special School in its own words
In its own words: "We are a happy, safe and supportive school where everyone is equally valued and nurtured to thrive."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
What parents say
23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Grove Special School (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (83%).
Who goes there
27.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 3.9% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at The Grove Special School has an education, health and care plan (51 of 51 in 2026). The most common need among them is a severe learning difficulty.
The Grove Special School has a SEN unit for autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 50 places, 48 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Berwick upon Tweed Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Grove Gardens (opposite), 50 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Grove Special 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
The Grove Special School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from July 2015, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Grove provides exceptional care and education where staff know each pupil well and skillfully adapt teaching to meet their individual needs. The school weaves personal development and life skills through everything it does, ensuring pupils gain independence and confidence for adulthood. Pupils benefit from a rich range of community experiences and outdoor activities that support both their learning and wellbeing.
Key Strengths
- Warm, trusting relationships between staff and pupils create a safe and secure learning environment
- Highly effective curriculum tailored to individual needs with strong focus on reading, independence skills and preparation for adulthood
- Excellent behavior support and routines that help pupils self-regulate, resulting in a calm and purposeful atmosphere
- Comprehensive careers education and guidance helping students make well-considered decisions about their next steps
- Rich opportunities for community experiences, visits and outdoor activities supporting physical and mental health
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with school leaders maintaining a strong open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits to places of interest, outdoor activities, accredited awards in academic, vocational and practical subjects
The Grove Special School has maintained its outstanding standards and provides the highest quality care and education for pupils with severe and profound learning difficulties. Every aspect of school life is centered on preparing pupils for adulthood while supporting their physical, emotional and developmental needs.
At a Glance
27.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, Multi-sensory, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
23 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2023/24KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2023/24 academic year
Keep up with The Grove Special School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Grove Special School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Grove Special 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
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
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 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
102%
Over capacity
51 pupils
50 places
1 pupil over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Berwick-upon-Tweed
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Berwick-upon-Tweed
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(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
51
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
The Grove Special School has a SEN unit for autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 50 places, 48 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
51
Total Pupils
37
Boys
14
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
8
Teachers
6.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,297
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.9%
Overall absence
26.2%
Persistent absence
42
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 The Grove Special School
What are SATs results like at The Grove Special School?
Of the pupils at The Grove Special School who took the 2024 Key Stage 2 assessments, 0% reached the expected standard in reading and 0% did so in maths.
What is The Grove Special School's Ofsted rating?
The Grove Special School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in July 2015, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for The Grove Special School?
No fixed boundary. When The Grove Special School is oversubscribed, Northumberland allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Grove Special School?
The Grove Special School has around 51 pupils on roll. 28% are eligible for free school meals.
Does The Grove Special School have specialist SEN provision?
The Grove Special School has a SEN unit for autism, multi-sensory impairment, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 50 places, 48 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at The Grove Special School?
7.9% of sessions were missed at The Grove Special School in 2024/25. 26.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Grove Special School?
Apply through Northumberland's coordinated admissions process, naming The Grove Special 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 Grove Special School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 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 Northumberland is 3 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Grove Special School?
The Grove Special School is at Grove Gardens, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 2EN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)