St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields is a mainstream primary school in South Shields, South Tyneside, for children aged 3 to 11. In January 2026, 26 of its 231 pupils (11.3%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 231 pupils
- Ofsted: Outstanding
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in South Tyneside.
11.3% get SEN support
26 of 231 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
3 of 231 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication9
- 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 primary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 3 to 11
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 231 (places for 210)
- Headteacher
- Mrs Carol Devine
- Part of
- Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 16.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- South Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 148486
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 South Tyneside 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 Outstanding, May 2024
Rated Outstanding at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- Early yearsOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Claypath Lane, South Shields, NE33 4PG
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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
- Waterville Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Park View School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Bamburgh School Special school · Ages 3–16 1.4 miles
- Christ Church CofE Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Marine Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 28%, EHC plans 2.6% 0.3 miles
- Laygate Community School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.4 miles
- Westoe Crown Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.7%, EHC plans 0.9% 0.5 miles
All mainstream schools in South Tyneside SEND schools in South Tyneside
Questions about St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields
How many pupils at St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 26 of the 231 pupils (11.3%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
What are the most common needs at St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (9 pupils) and autism (6 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
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 Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
Through South Tyneside 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 Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
You can ask for St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 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 Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields 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 Waterville Primary School, about 1.1 miles away.
Where is St Bede's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
Claypath Lane, South Shields, NE33 4PG, in South Tyneside.
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.