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OpenOfsted: School remains OutstandingURN 134662

The Oaks Secondary School

Community special school · Spennymoor · DL16 7DB

Ages 11–19 · 349 pupils · County Durham

School website

Ofsted

School remains Outstanding

Attainment 8

4.0

Overall absence

10.6%

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Outstanding

Inspection date

2023-06-26

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-1.69
−20+2
Attainment 84.0
English & maths grade 5+2%
English & maths grade 4+3%
EBacc entry0%

EBacc APS: 0.3

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence10.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)30.7%
Unauthorised1.3%
Authorised absence
9.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
4.9%
Enrolments in measure
306

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
349
Boys / girls
239 / 110
Free school meals
64.8%
FSM pupils
195
Gender
Mixed
School type
Community special school

Age range

Ages 11–19

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
Headteacher
Mr Martyn Tweddle

Location

Address
Rock Road
Postcode
DL16 7DB
Town
Spennymoor
Local authority
County Durham
District
County Durham
Constituency
Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor
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
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; 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 11–19, in Spennymoor, County Durham, 349 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school. Free school meals: 64.8%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty….

Open schools in Spennymoor
12
Academies among open schools in Spennymoor
42% (5)
Open schools in DL16
13
Open schools in County Durham LA
281

Nearby schools

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

Compare with theseAll in SpennymoorNear DL16

  • Middlestone Moor Academy

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Academy converter · Primary

    Durham · DL16 7DA · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS252%
    • Absence7.0%
    • FSM41.1%
    • Demand0.95

    0.0 miles away

  • Whitworth Park Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Spennymoor · DL16 7LN · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att847.7
    • P8-0.0
    • EM5+35%
    • Absence9.5%

    0.3 miles away

  • The Meadows Academy

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy special converter

    Spennymoor · DL16 7QW · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • FSM78.1%

    0.5 miles away

  • King Street Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Spennymoor · DL16 6RA · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS254%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM42.2%
    • Demand0.96

    0.9 miles away

  • North Park Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Spennymoor · DL16 6PP · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS239%
    • Absence7.2%
    • FSM65.9%
    • Demand1.00

    1.0 miles away

  • Springmoor Grange School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Spennymoor · DL16 6SQ · County Durham

    Ages 2–11

    • KS262%
    • Absence5.3%
    • FSM19.5%
    • Demand1.00

    1.1 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Martyn Tweddle
Telephone
01388827380
Website
https://www.theoaksschool.co.uk/

Official links