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OpenOfsted: School remains OutstandingURN 122388

The Dales School

Community special school · Blyth · NE24 4RE

Ages 4–11 · 236 pupils · Northumberland

School website

Ofsted

School remains Outstanding

KS2 expected (RWM)

0%

Overall absence

9.1%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Outstanding

Inspection date

2024-03-06

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)0%
Higher standard (RWM)0%

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence9.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.4%
Unauthorised1.4%
Authorised absence
7.7%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.0%
Enrolments in measure
191

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).

Capacity fill103%

236 pupils · 230 places

Pupils on roll
236
Boys / girls
174 / 62
School capacity
230
Capacity fill
236 / 230 (103%)
Free school meals
61%
FSM pupils
144
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Community special school
Headteacher
Dr Sue Fisher

Location

Address
Cowpen Road
Postcode
NE24 4RE
Town
Blyth
County
Northumberland
Local authority
Northumberland
District
Northumberland
Constituency
Blyth and Ashington
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
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability; HI - Hearing Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
SEN unit
SEN unit places
235 on roll / 230 capacity

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 4–11, in Blyth, Northumberland, 236 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: special school. Free school meals: 61%. SEN provision includes: SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability….

Open schools in Blyth
12
Academies among open schools in Blyth
50% (6)
Open schools in NE24
12
Open schools in Northumberland LA
178

Nearby schools

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

Compare with theseAll in BlythNear NE24

  • Horton Grange Primary School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Community school · Primary

    Blyth · NE24 4RE · Northumberland

    Ages 2–11

    • KS274%
    • Absence6.6%
    • FSM32.9%

    0.1 miles away

  • The Blyth Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Blyth · NE24 4JP · Northumberland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.0
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence15.3%

    0.3 miles away

  • Morpeth Road Academy

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Primary

    Blyth · NE24 5TQ · Northumberland

    Ages 2–11

    • KS222%
    • Absence7.5%
    • FSM60.3%

    0.8 miles away

  • Bedlington Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Bedlington · NE22 7DS · Northumberland

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.2
    • P8-0.3
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence8.5%

    0.8 miles away

  • Malvin's Close Academy

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Blyth · NE24 5BL · Northumberland

    Ages 3–11

    • KS262%
    • Absence4.7%
    • FSM42.4%

    1.0 miles away

  • Stead Lane Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedlington · NE22 5JS · Northumberland

    Ages 3–11

    • KS260%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM45.5%

    1.0 miles away

  • Bedlington Station Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Community school · Primary

    Bedlington · NE22 7JQ · Northumberland

    Ages 3–11

    • KS259%
    • Absence5.2%
    • FSM40.5%

    1.1 miles away

  • Gilbert Ward Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Free schools special

    Blyth · NE24 2TS · Northumberland

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence25.6%
    • FSM71.1%

    1.2 miles away

Contact

Headteacher
Dr Sue Fisher
Telephone
01670352556
Website
https://www.thedales.northumberland.sch.uk/

Official links