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OpenOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 131200

Dryden School

Community special school · Gateshead · NE9 5UR

Ages 11–18 · 77 pupils · Gateshead

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Overall absence

10.2%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2025-02-20

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)24.0%
Unauthorised0.3%
Authorised absence
9.9%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.0%
Enrolments in measure
50

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Pupils on roll
77
Boys / girls
51 / 26
Free school meals
57.4%
FSM pupils
35
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community special school
Federation
Dryden & Hill Top Learning Federation
Headteacher
Mrs Elizabeth Johnson

Location

Address
Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead
Postcode
NE9 5UR
Town
Gateshead
County
Tyne and Wear
Local authority
Gateshead
District
Gateshead
Constituency
Gateshead Central and Whickham
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed community special school, Ages 11–18, in Gateshead, Gateshead, 77 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 57.4%. SEN provision includes: SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Gateshead
57
Academies among open schools in Gateshead
35% (20)
Open schools in NE9
18
Open schools in Gateshead LA
93

Nearby schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in GatesheadNear NE9

  • River Tyne Academy Gateshead

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy alternative provision sponsor led

    Gateshead · NE9 5PQ · Gateshead

    Ages 8–16

    • FSM67.3%

    0.3 miles away

  • Kells Lane Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Gateshead · NE9 5HX · Gateshead

    Ages 3–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence3.1%
    • FSM2.5%
    • Demand1.32

    0.5 miles away

  • Carr Hill Community Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Gateshead · NE9 5NB · Gateshead

    Ages 3–11

    • KS253%
    • Absence6.1%
    • FSM67.1%
    • Demand0.97

    0.5 miles away

  • Gibside School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Community special school

    Gateshead · NE8 4DE · Gateshead

    Ages 2–11

    • KS20%
    • Absence7.6%
    • FSM52.1%

    0.5 miles away

  • Glynwood Community Primary School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Community school · Primary

    Gateshead · NE9 5SY · Gateshead

    Ages 3–11

    • KS238%
    • Absence7.6%
    • FSM31.0%
    • Demand0.96

    0.5 miles away

  • Kelvin Grove Community Primary School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Community school · Primary

    Gateshead · NE8 4UN · Gateshead

    Ages 3–11

    • KS263%
    • Absence8.3%
    • FSM49.8%
    • Demand0.97

    0.7 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Elizabeth Johnson
Telephone
01914203812
Website
http://drydenschool.co.uk/

Official links