St Oswald'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, 34 of its 226 pupils (15%) were getting SEN support and 3 (1.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–11
- 226 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in South Tyneside.
15% get SEN support
34 of 226 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
1.3% have an EHC plan
3 of 226 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Autism13
- Social, emotional and mental health9
- Speech, language and communication8
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
- 226 (places for 256)
- Headteacher
- Mr Dominic Woodhouse
- Part of
- Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 40.1% of pupils eligible
- Council
- South Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 148911
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 Good, June 2014; standards maintained (January 2025)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in June 2014. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
Since then: Standards maintained (ungraded inspection, January 2025).
Contact and getting there
Nash Avenue, Whiteleas, South Shields, NE34 8NS
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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
- Epinay Business and Enterprise School Special school · Ages 4–18 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- Park View School Special school · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Boldon School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 1.2 miles
- Lord Blyton Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Forest View Primary Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 18.8%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.4 miles
- Biddick Hall Junior School Primary · Ages 7–11 · SEN support 24.6%, EHC plans 3.8% 0.7 miles
- Ridgeway Primary Academy Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 31.2%, EHC plans 4% 0.7 miles
All mainstream schools in South Tyneside SEND schools in South Tyneside
Questions about St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields
How many pupils at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 34 of the 226 pupils (15%) 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 Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are autism (13 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (9 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (8 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Oswald'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 Oswald'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 Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
You can ask for St Oswald'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 Oswald'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 Boldon School, about 1.2 miles away.
Where is St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, South Shields?
Nash Avenue, Whiteleas, South Shields, NE34 8NS, 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.