The Grange Learning Centre

  • Special
  • Independent
  • Ages 7 to 19
Ofsted: Outstanding

Low Willington, DL15 0TYOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

The Grange Learning Centre is a special school in Low Willington for ages 7 to 19. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2023.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 4 July 2023, report published 17 September 2023

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 4 July 2023

The Grange Learning Centre is a very special place where pupils flourish. Pupils arrive at the school following significant periods of disrupted education, including very poor attendance. Leaders and staff know and understand pupils' issues and make releasing their desire to learn the top priority. Adults get to know individual pupils' needs and wishes. Strong and trusting relationships are developed and nurtured. Leaders have the highest expectations of what pupils can achieve academically, socially and in their personal development. Leaders work with other professionals, including experts in therapeutic care, to fully understand the young people who come into their care. Staff quickly identify pupils' interests and gaps in their knowledge. They put in place highly personalised and ambitious educational and pastoral intervention programmes. Pupils rise to staff's high expectations. Staff help pupils to achieve their very best. Pupils feel very safe in school. They know that staff care for them. Leaders have put in place strong pastoral systems that help to keep pupils safe. Pupils say that bullying sometimes happens. Adults deal with incidents of bullying quickly and effectively. All staff are relentless in developing pupils' independence and resilience. They carefully identify the gifts and talents that their pupils do not realise they possess. For example, pupils become skilled horse riders, take part in talent shows and realise their ambitions of studying post-16 courses of interest. Pupils are extremely proud of their achievements.

Pupil numbers and mix

16 pupils on roll, with places for 19

Special educational needs support0%

0%, 14.8 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan100%

100%, 94 percentage points above the England average of 6%.

Schools near The Grange Learning Centre

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Norman Cornish Academy2 milesOfsted: Requires improvementNot published
The Oaks Secondary School2 milesOfsted: OutstandingAttainment 8: 3.5
Evergreen Primary School4 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard
Strawberry Lane6 milesNo Ofsted inspectionNot published
Durham Trinity School & Sports College6 milesOfsted: Good0% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Other independent special school
Sector
Independent
Age range
7 to 19
Gender
Mixed
Headteacher
Mr Mark Boyle
Address
Low Willington, DL15 0TY
Local authority
County Durham
URN
135834

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.