Dryden School is a council-run special school in Gateshead for children and young people aged 11 to 18. It supports severe learning and PMLD.
- Ages 11–18
- 77 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
School details
- Type
- Council special school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 77
- Headteacher
- Mrs Elizabeth Johnson (Headteacher)
- Opened
- 1 September 1997
- Free school meals
- 57.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Gateshead
- School reference (URN)
- 131200
Needs it supports
2 needs: severe learning, PMLD
As listed by the Department for Education, grouped the way EHC plans describe needs.
Cognition and learning
- Severe learning difficulty Other schools for this in Gateshead (2)
- Profound and multiple learning difficulties Other schools for this in Gateshead (1)
How to get a place
4 steps, starting with an EHC plan
- An EHC plan
Places at schools like this usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan. If your child doesn’t have one yet, you can ask the council for an assessment yourself.
- Visit and ask questions
See whether the school feels right and whether it can meet your child’s needs. Our list of questions below can help.
- Ask for the school to be named
Tell the council that looks after the plan (often Gateshead council) that this is the school you want, and ask them to consult it.
- Named in the plan
If the school is named in your child’s plan, it must admit your child. Free home-to-school transport is often part of the arrangement.
Questions to ask when you visit
8 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them on the day.
Ofsted
Rated Outstanding, June 2015; standards maintained (January 2025)
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in June 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Sixth formOutstanding
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, January 2025).
Contact and getting there
Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, NE9 5UR
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
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The school’s details, how to get a place and the questions to ask, in your inbox.
Other SEND schools nearby
- The Cedars Academy Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.4 miles
- Furrowfield School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- River Tyne Academy Gateshead Alternative provision · Ages 8–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
By need in Gateshead: Autism (8) · SEMH (4) · Speech and language (4) · Moderate learning (3) · Severe learning (3) · Physical (3) · PMLD (2) · Dyslexia and SpLD (2)
Questions about Dryden School
How do I get a place at Dryden School?
There’s no catchment area or application round. Places usually come through an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan: ask the council that looks after the plan to consult Dryden School. If it is named in the plan, the school must admit your child.
What needs does Dryden School support?
Severe learning difficulty and profound and multiple learning difficulties. Every child is different, so ask the school how it would meet your child’s needs.
What ages does Dryden School take?
Aged 11 to 18, boys and girls.
What is Dryden School’s Ofsted rating?
Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in January 2025 at its last graded inspection. Newer inspections no longer give a single overall grade, so read the latest report for the full picture.
Where is Dryden School?
Shotley Gardens, Low Fell, Gateshead, NE9 5UR, in Gateshead.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, 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.