Keelman's Way School
Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, NE31 1QYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Keelman's Way School is a special school in Hebburn for ages 2 to 19. It is one of the 62 schools in South Tyneside. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 22 January 2014, report published 13 February 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 16 April 2024
Keelman's Way School provides a nurturing environment in which pupils thrive. All pupils have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Their welfare, care and safety are at the centre of everything that staff do. Pupils are happy and feel safe. Adults know individual pupils extremely well. There are highly positive relationships between pupils and members of staff. Pupils are friendly and supportive of their peers. Behaviour is exemplary. The school has high expectations for all pupils. There is a clear ambition that every pupil learns the skills that they need to live as full a life as possible. The personal development programme is especially strong. It gives pupils many opportunities to understand the world outside school to prepare for adulthood. For some pupils, this includes work experience in local businesses and volunteering in the community. Pupils learn in a lovely environment and access purpose-built facilities. They enjoy being in the outdoor spaces such as the sensory and wildlife gardens. Pupils learn gardening skills in the greenhouse and school allotment. The school provides onsite hydrotherapy, music therapy and other programmes tailored to individual needs. The school has replicated many aspects of the provision at the new base, Keelman's at South Shields.
What the school should improve
- The school has not reviewed the implementation of a small number of policies and agreed approaches to teaching the curriculum carefully enough. Occasionally, the learning experience of a minority of pupils does not match the school's intentions. The school should continue its work to support, evaluate and embed high quality teaching across the school.
- There is insufficient time given to the teaching of phonics for those pupils who are able to access phonics lessons. Some pupils do not have enough planned opportunities to practise their learning so that they remember and apply their phonics knowledge. The school should review and improve its approach to teaching phonics.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
9 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
194 pupils on roll, with places for 171
Schools near Keelman's Way School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir Charles Parsons School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Silverdale School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate | Attainment 8: 6.7 |
| Beacon Hill School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 0% met the expected standard |
| Park View School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 10.2 |
| Furrowfield School | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 5.4 |
School details
- School type
- Foundation special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Trust
- South Tyneside Co-Operative Special School Trust
- Age range
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Melanie King
- Phone
- 01914897480
- Address
- Campbell Park Road, Hebburn, NE31 1QY
- Local authority
- South Tyneside
- URN
- 136252
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.