OFSTED
13 January 2026
Latest inspection
Latest published outcome
Met
Renewed framework
Safeguarding
Met
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum & teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Needs attention
Attendance & behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development
Expected standard
Leadership & governance
Needs attention
INSPECTION HISTORY
Previous Ofsted activity
12 October 2021
Graded inspection
Good
Published
5 December 2021
SCHOOL DETAILS
About this school
School type
Community special school
Phase
Not applicable
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Does not apply
Local authority
County Durham
Trust
Not applicable
Census date
15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE
2025/26
School community
Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.
Total pupils
316
316 full-time ·
0 part-time
Female pupils
117
37.0% of pupils
Male pupils
199
63.0% of pupils
Free school meals
Pupils eligible for free school meals.
33.4 pts
above England
School
58.2%
County Durham
32.2%
North East
32.0%
England
24.8%
English as an additional language
Pupils whose first language is not English.
19.7 pts
below England
School
0.6%
County Durham
4.7%
North East
10.0%
England
20.3%
Young carers
Pupils recorded as young carers.
1.0 pts
below England
School
0.0%
County Durham
0.5%
North East
0.9%
England
1.0%
Ethnicity
Largest recorded pupil groups.
White British
95.3%
301
Any other White background
0.9%
3
Gypsy / Roma
0.9%
3
White and Asian
0.9%
3
Any other Asian background
0.3%
1
Any other ethnic group
0.3%
1
Council, regional and national comparisons
are pupil-weighted using published school
census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS
2025/26
Special educational needs
Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.
Pupils with SEN
100.0%
316 of
316 pupils
79.2 pts
above England
England:
20.8%
England
14.8%
14.8 pts
below
England
6.0%
94.0 pts
above
PRIMARY NEEDS
Pupils
Most common identified needs
SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
2024/25
Key stage 4 outcomes
Published Department for Education results for 2024/25.
ATTAINMENT 8
Average attainment score
2.1
37.1 pts
below England
Latest published: -2.05 · 2023/24
Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.
ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE
2024/25
Attendance profile
Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.
ABSENCE RATE
13.65%
Overall absence
Percentage of possible sessions missed.
7.44 pts
higher than
England
School
13.65%
County Durham
6.04%
North East
6.28%
England
6.22%
ABSENCE RATE
36.45%
Persistent absence
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
20.64 pts
higher than
England
School
36.45%
County Durham
15.78%
North East
16.04%
England
15.82%
ABSENCE RATE
8.03%
Severe absence
Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.
6.22 pts
higher than
England
School
8.03%
County Durham
1.43%
North East
1.83%
England
1.80%
Council, regional and national
comparisons are averages of published
school-level percentages rather than
pupil-weighted official absence rates.
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
School context
Comparison with open not applicable schools.
CAPACITY
Capacity utilisation
112.5%
32.7 pts
above England
Croft Community School
112.5%
County Durham
92.8%
North East
88.8%
England
79.8%
Benchmarks use open schools in the
same phase. Capacity utilisation is
calculated from published pupil and
capacity figures.