Gust Independent School
1 Haldane Street, Ashington, NE63 8SFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Gust Independent School is a special school in Ashington for ages 6 to 17. It is one of the 171 schools in Northumberland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2024.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 March 2024, report published 12 May 2024
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 March 2024
Pupils enjoy coming to GUST Independent School. They feel valued and understood. The relationships between pupils and staff are based on mutual respect. Some pupils arrive with negative attitudes to school. The staff and leaders help to turn these attitudes around. Pupils know the adults they work with will do their best to help them achieve well. Pupils feel safe and well cared for. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school has high ambitions for all pupils. It helps them to succeed. Pupils leave with the skills and knowledge to take their next steps in their learning journey confidently. The school ensures pupils focus on their learning in calm, focused classrooms. Pupils appreciate this learning environment. Bullying does happen. The school takes action to address bullying promptly. The school provides effective support to those involved. Pupils say this is always the case. Leaders have given careful consideration to the wider opportunities pupils participate in, such as mountain biking and litter picking. The school ensures that pupils maintain a healthy lifestyle by making use of local leisure facilities. Recently developed outdoor pursuit awards help pupils actively contribute to the local community.
What the school should improve
- The training offer for staff is not well matched to their needs. This means staff's understanding and skills do not match the school's ambitions. The school must ensure staff have the relevant training to meet the needs of pupils who attend here which is also aligned to the curriculum and vision of the school.
- Some pupils do not recognise British values well. These pupils are not fully prepared for life in modern Britain. The school must continue to develop its curriculum linked to British values and make checks to ensure pupils recognise British values in everyday life.
- Some pupils do not attend school as often as they should. These pupils do not benefit from the planned curriculum and fall behind their peers. The school should continue to work with pupils and their families to improve pupils' attendance at school.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
11 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
35 pupils on roll, with places for 40
Schools near Gust Independent School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosewood Independent School | 0.1 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| NCEA Castle School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Cleaswell Hill School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 2.5 |
| Howard House School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 3.6 |
| The Dales School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Other independent special school
- Sector
- Independent
- Age range
- 6 to 17
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Joanne Watmore
- Phone
- 01670850943
- Address
- 1 Haldane Street, Ashington, NE63 8SF
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- URN
- 137385
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.