St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham is a mainstream middle school in Hexham, Northumberland, for children and young people aged 9 to 13. In January 2026, 29 of its 168 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 6 (3.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 9–13
- 168 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Northumberland.
17.3% get SEN support
29 of 168 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
3.6% have an EHC plan
6 of 168 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health9
- Speech, language and communication9
- Moderate learning difficulty8
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
- Academy
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 168 (places for 360)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Sarah Oakes
- Part of
- Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 19% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Northumberland
- School reference (URN)
- 148260
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, February 2015; school remains Good (October 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in February 2015. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, October 2023).
Contact and getting there
Highford Lane, Hexham, NE46 2DD
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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
- Hexham Priory School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.2 miles
- Cambian Dilston College Independent · Ages 16–25 3.0 miles
- Thorp Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 14 miles
- Leadgate Primary School - Split Site Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 15 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Queen Elizabeth High School Secondary · Ages 13–18 · SEN support 4%, EHC plans 3.3% 0.2 miles
- Hexham Middle School Middle · Ages 9–13 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 2.9% 0.2 miles
- St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham Primary · Ages 4–9 · SEN support 6.2%, EHC plans 4.9% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Northumberland SEND schools in Northumberland
Questions about St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham
How many pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 29 of the 168 pupils (17.3%) were getting SEN support and 6 (3.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (9 pupils), speech, language and communication needs (9 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (8 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham?
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 St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham?
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 St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham?
You can ask for St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham 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 St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham 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 14 miles away.
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham?
Highford Lane, Hexham, NE46 2DD, 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.