Ofsted: Requires improvement

The Meadows School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr A McGarry

location_onSpennymoor, DL16 7QW

language Visit Website phone 1388811178

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

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Attainment 8

5.7

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GCSE Rank

#37 in County Durham

#4,219 of 4,663 nationally

summarize

The Meadows School is a Community special school school in Spennymoor, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

The Meadows School is a community special school in Spennymoor, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 63 pupils on roll, of whom 75% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 5.7, placing the school #37 in County Durham and #4,219 of 4,663 nationally. 0.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 5.0:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 8.0%.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 14.5 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

5.7

Grade 5+ E&M

0.00%

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.26

2024

Progress 8 Score

-2.01

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

10.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0.00%

EBacc APS0.44

2023

Progress 8 Score

-2.55

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.32

2022

Progress 8 Score

-2.33

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

9.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.4

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-2.31

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

7.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.32

2018

Progress 8 Score

-2.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

5.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc0%

EBacc APS0.2

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

60%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)60%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)30%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

50%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)44%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment6%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)44%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

57%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)57%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)43%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

71%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)71%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)29%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

46%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)46%

Apprenticeships0%

Employment0%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)54%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

Inspection Report

31 January 2025

Inspection Report

05 December 2023

Inspection Report

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10 June 2022

Inspection Report

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23 March 2021

Inspection Report

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25 June 2019

Inspection Report

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28 February 2017

Inspection Report

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09 October 2012

Inspection Report

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03 February 2010

Inspection Report

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18 April 2007

Inspection Report

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09 June 2003

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-12-05

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-25

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-02-28

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2012-10-09

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

12.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

9.5%(6 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 63 pupils. During this period, there were 8 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 12.7%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	63	8	12.7%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	61	10	16.4%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	62	14	22.6%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	61	22	36.1%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	61	37	60.7%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	64	46	71.9%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	64	1	1.6%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	61	1	1.6%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	64	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	65	1	1.5%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	64	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	63	0	0.0%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	63	2	3.2%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	59	0	0.0%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	55	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	55	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	53	5	9.4%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	58	1	1.7%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	56	1	1.8%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	55	0	0.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	61	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	61	1	1.6%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	59	2	3.4%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	63	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	58	3	5.2%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	57	1	1.8%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 51 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 2 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

The Meadows School

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover