Outwood Academy Riverside is a mainstream secondary school in Middlesbrough for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 155 of its 745 pupils (20.8%) were getting SEN support and 11 (1.5%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 745 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Middlesbrough.
20.8% get SEN support
155 of 745 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
1.5% have an EHC plan
11 of 745 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty55
- Social, emotional and mental health52
- Speech, language and communication13
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia7
- 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.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 745 (places for 1,050)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Melissa Brant-Smith
- Part of
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 64% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Middlesbrough
- School reference (URN)
- 147848
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 Middlesbrough 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, May 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
100 Russell Street, Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AD
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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
- High Clarence Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.1 miles
- Hopefields Education CiC Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.3 miles
- Beech Grove Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
- Fulcrum Education Independent · Ages 11–16 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Abingdon Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 17.5%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.3 miles
- Breckon Hill Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 30.1%, EHC plans 2% 0.5 miles
- Lift North Ormesby Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 3% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in Middlesbrough SEND schools in Middlesbrough
Questions about Outwood Academy Riverside
How many pupils at Outwood Academy Riverside have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 155 of the 745 pupils (20.8%) were getting SEN support and 11 (1.5%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Outwood Academy Riverside?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (55 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (52 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (13 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Outwood Academy Riverside?
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 Outwood Academy Riverside?
Through Middlesbrough 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 Outwood Academy Riverside?
You can ask for Outwood Academy Riverside 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 Outwood Academy Riverside 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 High Clarence Academy, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is Outwood Academy Riverside?
100 Russell Street, Middlehaven, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AD, in Middlesbrough.
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.