Code: E08000037
Director of Children's Services: Helen Fergusson


Summary of Ofsted findings

Summary of Ofsted findings

Inspection of Gateshead’s local authority children’s services

These inspections focus on the effectiveness of local authority services and arrangements:

  • to help and protect children, and enable families to stay together and get the help they need
  • the experiences and progress of children in care wherever they live, including those children who return home
  • the arrangements for permanence for children who are looked after, in stable, loving homes, including adoption
  • the experiences and progress of care leavers.
Inspection type Inspection start date Overall effectiveness Impact of leaders Help and protection Children in care Care leavers
ILACS Short Inspection 2 December 2024 Good Good Good Good Good

Data source

Area SEND inspection of Gateshead Local Area Partnership

The purpose of an area SEND inspection is to:

  • provide an independent, external evaluation of the effectiveness of the local area partnership’s arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)
  • where appropriate, recommend what the local area partnership should do to improve the arrangements.
Inspection outcome

Gateshead was last inspected on 22 May 2023.

The local area partnership's arrangements lead to inconsistent experiences and outcomes for children and young people with SEND. The local area partnership must work jointly to make improvements.

They were given no areas for priority action.

The next full area SEND inspection will be within approximately 3 years.

Ofsted and Care Quality Commission (CQC) ask that the local area partnership updates and publishes its strategic plan based on the recommendations set out in this report.

Data source

Joint targeted area inspection of Gateshead local authority

The agencies for these inspections can include the police, children’s social care, probation services, education and relevant health services. Inspectors will also evaluate how local agencies work with education and childcare providers. The focus of these inspections is how effectively the local safeguarding partners work together at the practice and strategic levels.

Theme Inspection start date Link
There have been no JTAI inspections for this local authority.

Data source

Ofsted inspection reports and tools


Local authority context

Population 18 and under Number %
Gateshead 42,867 21.1%
National 12,869,368 22.0%

Data source

Children looked after Number Rate per 10,000
Gateshead 503 124
National 81,770 67

Data source

School-age pupils eligible for free school meals Number %
Gateshead 8,046 30.6%
National 2,085,168 26.7%

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School-age pupils eligible for extra funding (pupil premium) Number %
Gateshead 8,899 34.4%
National 2,266,608 29.3%

Data source

Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in state-funded settings Number %
Gateshead 5,996 19.7%
National 1,766,924 19.6%

Data source

School-age pupils with English as an additional language Number %
Gateshead 3,785 13.1%
National 1,806,029 21.4%

Data source

% of children in income-deprived families (IDACI) Average %
Gateshead 42.0%
National 38.0%
Health Index (children and young people) Health Index score
Gateshead 94.0
National 100.8
More details about the health index metric

Indicates the health of an area measured in three domains: Healthy People, Health Lives and Healthy Places.

A score of 100 represents health in England in 2015. A higher number means better health and a lower number means worse health.

Data source

Remit overview

Contents

Early years

Population Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
Aged 0 to 5 years 12,109 6.0% 6.4%
Aged 0 1,805 0.9% 1.0%
Aged 1 1,879 0.9% 1.0%
Aged 2 2,083 1.0% 1.1%
Aged 3 2,082 1.0% 1.1%
Aged 4 2,053 1.0% 1.1%
Aged 5 2,207 1.1% 1.1%

Data source

Disadvantaged Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
Early years pupil premium 511 4.2% 3.3%
Children looked after (under 1 year) 20 1.1% 0.6%
Children looked after (1 to 4 years) 59 0.7% 0.4%

Data sources:

Special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) /
Education, health and care plans (EHCP)
Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
SEN support in state-funded settings (age 2 and under) 21 0.4% 0.3%
SEN support in state-funded settings (age 3) 112 5.4% 3.7%
SEN support in state-funded settings (age 4) 239 11.6% 9.4%
SEN support in state-funded settings (age 5) 310 14.0% 12.1%
Total: SEN support in state-funded settings (age 5 and under) 682 5.6% 4.5%
Children with an EHCP (age 2 and under) 1 0.0% 0.0%
Children with an EHCP (age 3) 8 0.4% 0.7%
Children with an EHCP (age 4) 89 4.3% 3.5%
Children with an EHCP (age 5) 107 4.8% 4.7%
Total: Children with an EHCP (age 5 and under) 205 1.7% 1.6%

Data sources:

Funded early years places for 2-year-olds Population aged 2-years-old Number of eligible 2-year-olds % of population aged 2 % take-up of funded places
Gateshead 2,083 536 25.7% 65.9%
National 630,059 145,824 23.1% 65.2%

Data source

Funded early years places for 3-year-olds Population aged 3-years-old Number of eligible 3-year-olds % of population aged 3 % take-up of funded places
Gateshead 2,082 All 3-year olds are eligible 102.4%
National 625,948 90.6%
The 2 and 3-year-old funded places tables look different because they measure different things; funded places for 2-year-olds are only for children considered to be disadvantaged, while for 3-year-olds everyone is entitled to a funded place.
Why these numbers might look odd for the 3-year-old funded take-up table
All 3-year-olds are eligible for funded places. Values over 100% are due to falling birth rates, which reduced the overall population more than the number registered for a place. A percentage above 100% shows very high take-up. In other words, more children are registered than the population estimate suggests exist.

Data source

Children's overweight and obesity Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
Children's overweight and obesity (reception-age children) 425 24.4% 23.5%

Data source

Oral health Number examined in Gateshead % examined in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
Oral health (visible tooth decay in 5-year-olds) 950 42.5% 19.9% 22.4%

Schools

Population Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead1 % National1
Primary-age pupils (ages 5 to 11) 16,067 7.9% 8.2%
Secondary-age pupils (ages 12 to 16) 11,887 5.9% 6.2%

Data source

Population of looked-after-children Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead1 % National1
Ages 5 to 9 93 0.8% 0.4%
Ages 10 to 15 210 1.5% 0.7%

Data source

Pupils eligible for free schools meals Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 4,337 29.4% 25.3%
Secondary 3,200 30.0% 27.5%
Alternative provision 74 67.3% 64.6%
Special 435 57.2% 49.5%
Non-maintained special 31.0%

Data source

Pupils eligible for pupil premium Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 4,337 29.7% 25.1%
Secondary 3,530 31.3% 28.9%

Data source

Pupils with SEND Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 3,027 19.4% 18.2%
Secondary 1,836 15.1% 16.5%
Alternative provision 59 53.6% 83.4%
Special 819 100.0% 99.9%
Non-maintained special 99.7%
Independent schools 238 15.0% 24.1%

Data source

Pupils with English as an additional language Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 2,226 14.3% 23.4%
Secondary 1,474 12.1% 19.2%
Alternative provision 1 0.9% 7.6%
Special 69 8.4% 14.5%
Non-maintained special 11.0%
Attendance of all pupils up to week 4 of calendar year % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 95.1% 95.0%
Secondary 91.3% 91.8%
Special 89.2% 87.1%

Data source

Attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals (summer term 2024/25) % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 92.5% 91.9%
Secondary 82.4% 85.2%
Special 88.8% 85.1%

Data source

Attendance of pupils with SEND (summer term 2024/25) % in Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 92.8% 92.1%
Secondary 81.7% 84.3%
Special 90.0% 87.3%

Data source

Primary attainment: Year 1 phonics screening pass Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
All pupils 1,556 76.6% 79.8%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 330 62.3% 66.6%
Pupils with SEND 159 38.8% 43.4%
Pupils with English as an additional language 241 83.7% 79.5%
Primary attainment: Year 4 times table check (full marks) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
All pupils 951 43.8% 36.8%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 274 36.0% 27.4%
Pupils with SEND 106 19.9% 16.5%
Pupils with English as an additional language 171 56.4% 45.2%

Data source

Primary attainment: Key stage 2 reading, writing, maths combined (met the expected standard) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
All pupils 1,376 64.3% 62.6%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 354 47.5% 47.7%
Pupils with SEND 120 23.3% 23.8%
Pupils with English as an additional language 184 68.7% 66.2%

Data source

Secondary attainment: Attainment 8 Average in Gateshead2 National average2
All pupils 46.9 45.9
Pupils eligible for free school meals 34.3 35.0
Pupils with SEND 27.7 28.1

Data source

Population receiving education outside of their local authority Number outside of Gateshead % outside of Gateshead2 % National2
Primary 314 2.3% 4.1%
Secondary 686 6.8% 8.7%
Special 33 4.4% 9.0%
Children being home educated Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead1 % National1
Primary 110 0.7% 0.8%
Secondary 250 2.1% 2.5%
Total 350 1.3% 1.5%
More details about the children being home educated numbers
Local authority data in the source dataset has been rounded to the nearest 10. As a result totals may not equal the sum of their component parts.

Data source

Suspensions (from primary school) Number in Gateshead Rate per 100 pupils in Gateshead3 Rate per 100 pupils National3
Total number of suspensions 58 0.4 0.9
Total pupils with one or more suspensions 35 0.2 0.5
Pupils with one or more suspensions who are eligible for free school meals 22 0.5 (in group) 1.2 (in group)
Pupils with one or more suspensions with SEND 29 1.0 (in group) 2.4 (in group)
More details about suspensions from state-funded primary schools and totals not summing
Suspensions data on total number of pupils may not match, as a change in a pupil’s category within the same term results in them being counted separately under each category. For example, if a pupil receives multiple suspensions while classified as not having SEN, and then receives additional suspensions after being reclassified as receiving SEN support during the same term, they will be recorded as two separate enrolments in the data.

Data source

Suspensions (from secondary school) Number in Gateshead Rate per 100 pupils in Gateshead3 Rate per 100 pupils National3
Total number of suspensions 1,348 11.0 7.8
Total pupils with one or more suspensions 553 4.5 3.8
Pupils with one or more suspensions who are eligible for free school meals 329 9.6 (in group) 8.2 (in group)
Pupils with one or more suspensions with SEND 213 11.6 (in group) 9.1 (in group)
More details about suspensions from state-funded secondary schools and totals not summing
Suspensions data on total number of pupils may not match, as a change in a pupil’s category within the same term results in them being counted separately under each category. For example, if a pupil receives multiple suspensions while classified as not having SEN, and then receives additional suspensions after being reclassified as receiving SEN support during the same term, they will be recorded as two separate enrolments in the data.

Data source

Suspensions (from special school) Number in Gateshead Rate per 100 pupils in Gateshead3 Rate per 100 pupils National3
Total number of suspensions 39 4.8 5.1
Total pupils with one or more suspensions 21 2.6 2.9
Pupils with one or more suspensions who are eligible for free school meals 14 3.1 (in group) 4.1 (in group)
Pupils with one or more suspensions with SEND 21 2.6 (in group) 2.9 (in group)
More details about suspensions from state-funded special schools and totals not summing
Suspensions data on total number of pupils may not match, as a change in a pupil’s category within the same term results in them being counted separately under each category. For example, if a pupil receives multiple suspensions while classified as not having SEN, and then receives additional suspensions after being reclassified as receiving SEN support during the same term, they will be recorded as two separate enrolments in the data.

Data source

Exclusions (from primary school) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Total number of pupils excluded 0 0.0% 0.0%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 0 0.0% 0.0%
Pupils with SEND 0 0.0% 0.1%

Data source

Exclusions (from secondary school) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Total number of pupils excluded 27 0.2% 0.1%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 18 0.5% 0.2%
Pupils with SEND 8 0.4% 0.3%

Data source

Exclusions (from special school) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead2 % National2
Total number of pupils excluded 0 0.0% 0.0%
Pupils eligible for free school meals 0 0.0% 0.0%
Pupils with SEND 0 0.0% 0.0%

1. % of all children in Gateshead / England.

2. % of all pupils in state-funded settings across Gateshead / England.

3. Rate per 100 pupils in state-funded settings across Gateshead / England.

Further education and skills

Population Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
Aged 16 to 18 years 7,275 3.6% 3.6%
Aged 19 to 21 years 6,384 3.1% 3.6%
Aged 22 to 24 years 6,337 3.1% 3.6%
Aged 25 years and over 147,172 72.6% 70.8%

Data source

Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) Number in Gateshead % in Gateshead % National
16- to 17-year-olds known to LA 4,088 2.4% 2.4%
NEET 179 4.4% 3.4%
Activity not known 21 0.5% 2.2%
Total NEET or activity not known 200 4.9% 5.6%

Data source

16 to 18 progression to higher education or training % in Gateshead % National
Degrees (all) 61.0% 66.0%
Degrees at top third higher education institutions 22.0% 24.0%
Higher apprenticeships 3.0% 2.0%
Other study at level 4 and 5 2.0% 3.0%
Progressing to higher education or training 66.0% 70.0%
More details about the further education and skills destinations data

This data reflects the destinations of pupils based on the number on roll when they were aged 16 to 18, tracking where they progressed after completing their studies.

Degree destinations include any study at level 6 or higher such as bachelor degrees, graduate diplomas, and post-graduate degrees. The top third higher education institutions when ranked by average UCAS tariff score of entrants across their best 3 A levels.

Higher apprenticeships are those from level 4 to 7 and are equivalent to a foundation degree and above. Degree apprenticeships are available at levels 6 and 7.

Other study at level 4 or 5 destinations include those students studying qualifications such as foundation degrees, Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).

Data source

Social care

Explore the findings from Ofsted's local authority inspections.

Explore population characteristics for this local authority.