Priory Woods School
Tothill Avenue, Netherfields, Middlesbrough, TS3 0RHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Priory Woods School is a special school in Middlesbrough for ages 3 to 19. It is one of the 61 schools in Middlesbrough. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 10 December 2024, report published 22 January 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 10 December 2024
At Priory Woods, pupils experience an environment filled with warmth and care. Pupils and staff bring the school's motto of 'a special place' to life. Pupils are polite and kind. They hold doors open for one another. Pupils empathise with their peers' needs. They also take on important roles. Students enjoy serving the community in the sixth-form café. This helps them to learn vital life skills. Pupils thrive in a school where there are no limits to what they can achieve. The school ensures their special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not a barrier. Pupils experience a wide range of trips, visits and other educational experiences. This begins expertly in early years. Children flourish in an environment where everything is possible and accessible. Throughout the school, pupils are happy. They recall their experiences and education with infectious enthusiasm. Due to the high expectations of the school, pupils achieve well. At the end of school, they move on to ambitious and well-suited destinations. The curriculum skilfully blends personal development and academic learning. Pupils' education, health and care (EHC) plan targets sit at the heart of this. Learning is highly personalised to support everyone to achieve their goals. Staff know pupils exceptionally well.
What the school should improve
- Some learning, particularly for those on the 'challenge' pathway, is not well matched to what pupils already know and can do. This means that some pupils do not achieve as highly as they could. The school should continue its work to improve the curriculum, including how learning is checked, to ensure pupils on all pathways learn well over time.
- The school's approach to evaluating its work is not as developed as it could be. This limits the understanding the school has of the impact of the curriculum. The school, including those responsible for governance, should ensure there are stronger systems in place to accurately identify any gaps in provision that it needs to address.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
11 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
205 pupils on roll, with places for 200
Schools near Priory Woods School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Tees Academy Grangetown | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 17.1 |
| Mackenzie Thorpe Centre | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Mo Mowlam Academy | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to strong standard | 11% met the expected standard |
| Holmwood School | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | 0% met the expected standard |
| Hollis Academy | 2 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 5.7 |
School details
- School type
- Community special school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Fox
- Phone
- 01642770540
- Address
- Tothill Avenue, Netherfields, Middlesbrough, TS3 0RH
- Local authority
- Middlesbrough
- URN
- 131425
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.