The Grove Special School, Berwick-upon-Tweed

Outstanding
Special
Community special school
Mixed
Ages 219

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Penelope Derries
Pupils:51 / 50 capacity
LA:Northumberland
Phone:01289306390
Address:Grove Gardens, Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed, TD15 2EN
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 1 year ago
-

Overall

Inspected 20 May 2025View full report
URN:122385
UKPRN:10017205
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:North Northumberland
Urban/Rural:Urban: Further from a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

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

22.7%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty

SEN Provision

No

Special Measures

What Parents Think

23 responses
Would recommend100%
Child is happy100%
Well taught100%
Good progress83%
Feels safe100%
Well behaved100%
Bullying dealt with9%
Kept informed100%
Handles concerns74%
Wider development100%

Source: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

Reading0%
Maths0%
Writing0%

2024/25 academic year

Class Sizes

0.0

Avg class size

0

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Grove Gardens (opp)
46m · 1 min walk
Etal Road (S-bound)
111m · 2 min walk
Parkside (SW - Bound)
148m · 2 min walk
Prior Road (on)
169m · 3 min walk
Etal Way (near)
216m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

102%

Over capacity

51 pupils

50 capacity

1 places over capacity

Area Demand Pressure - Berwick-upon-Tweed

Low pressure
New homes approved:658
Projected new pupils:118

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Berwick-upon-Tweed

Admissions Demand - Northumberland

Low demand0.88x oversubscription

Places available

1,986

Applications

1,744

Got 1st preference

96.1%

Got preferred school

98.8%

Secondary admissions across Northumberland (2025/26)

Inspection History(7)

20 May 2025
3 December 2019
14 July 2015
OutstandingReport
Leadership & ManagementOutstanding

House Prices

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

7.85129%

Overall absence

26.19048%

Persistent absence

42

Enrolments

Authorised7.72583%
Unauthorised0.12546%
Persistent (10%+)26.19048%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.86867%
18/19
8.98855%
20/21
7.46804%
21/22
8.50998%
22/23
10.14503%
23/24
7.85129%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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