Bellingham Middle School and Sports College is a mainstream middle school in Hexham, Northumberland, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 9 of its 46 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 5 (10.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 46 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Northumberland.
19.6% get SEN support
9 of 46 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
10.9% have an EHC plan
5 of 46 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism6
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream middle school
- Run as
- Foundation school
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 46 (places for 240)
- Headteacher
- Mr Steve Gibson
- Free school meals
- 28.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Northumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 122350
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Northumberland council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, October 2019; some aspects not as strong (April 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2019.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: Some aspects not as strong (ungraded inspection, April 2025).
Contact and getting there
Redesmouth Road, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2EN
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Hexham Priory School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 14 miles
- Cambian Dilston College Independent · Ages 16–25 15 miles
- Thorp Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 22 miles
- Walbottle Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 22 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Bellingham Primary School Primary · Ages 4–8 · SEN support 12.5%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.0 miles
- Wark Church of England Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.2%, EHC plans 0% 4.1 miles
- Greenhaugh Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 23.1%, EHC plans 7.7% 4.1 miles
All mainstream schools in Northumberland SEND schools in Northumberland
Questions about Bellingham Middle School and Sports College
How many pupils at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 9 of the 46 pupils (19.6%) were getting SEN support and 5 (10.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
Through Northumberland council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
You can ask for Bellingham Middle School and Sports College to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Bellingham Middle School and Sports College have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Thorp Academy, about 22 miles away.
Where is Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
Redesmouth Road, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2EN, in Northumberland.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.