⌘ K
Overview
SCHOOL PROFILE

The Oaks Secondary School

Not applicable Community special school URN 134662
Open
Pupils 8,834,192 Latest school census
Capacity — Published school capacity
Capacity used — Pupils as a share of capacity
Age range 11 – 19 Statutory age range
OFSTED

Latest ungraded inspection

18 May 2023
Latest published outcome School remains Outstanding
Published 26 June 2023 View Ofsted record
SCHOOL DETAILS

About this school

School type Community special school
Phase Not applicable
Gender Mixed
Religious character Does not apply
Local authority County Durham
Trust Not applicable
Census date 15 January 2026
PUPIL PROFILE

School community

Latest published pupil characteristics for 2025/26.

2025/26
Total pupils 349 349 full-time · 0 part-time
Female pupils 110 31.5% of pupils
Male pupils 239 68.5% of pupils

Free school meals

Pupils eligible for free school meals.

64.2%
39.4 pts above England
School 64.2%
County Durham 32.2%
North East 32.0%
England 24.8%

English as an additional language

Pupils whose first language is not English.

1.4%
18.9 pts below England
School 1.4%
County Durham 4.7%
North East 10.0%
England 20.3%

Young carers

Pupils recorded as young carers.

0.3%
0.7 pts below England
School 0.3%
County Durham 0.5%
North East 0.9%
England 1.0%

Ethnicity

Largest recorded pupil groups.

White British
94.0%
328
Any other White background
2.0%
7
African
1.4%
5
Indian
0.9%
3
Any other Asian background
0.6%
2
Any other Mixed background
0.3%
1
Council, regional and national comparisons are pupil-weighted using published school census counts.
ADDITIONAL NEEDS

Special educational needs

Pupils receiving SEN support or with an education, health and care plan.

2025/26
Pupils with SEN 100.0% 349 of 349 pupils
79.2 pts above England England: 20.8%
School 100.0%
County Durham 22.4%
North East 22.6%
England 20.8%
SEN support 0.0% 0 pupils
England 14.8% 14.8 pts below
EHC plans 100.0% 349 pupils
England 6.0% 94.0 pts above
PRIMARY NEEDS

Most common identified needs

Pupils
Autistic spectrum disorder 202
Severe learning difficulty 100
Moderate learning difficulty 31
Profound & multiple learning difficulty 13
Social, emotional & mental health 3

SEN comparisons are pupil-weighted using published 2025/26 Department for Education school-level data. Primary needs combine pupils receiving SEN support and pupils with EHC plans.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Key stage 4 outcomes

Published Department for Education results for 2024/25.

2024/25
ATTAINMENT 8

Average attainment score

3.5 35.7 pts below England
School 3.5
County Durham 38.9
North East 36.8
England 39.2
English & maths grade 5+ 0.0% England 36.0% 36.0 pts below England
English & maths grade 4+ 1.4% England 51.4% 50.0 pts below England
EBacc entry 0.0% England 30.6% 30.6 pts below England
EBacc average point score 0.30 England 3.41
Progress 8 Not available for 2024/25

Latest published: -1.69 · 2023/24

Comparisons are averages of published school-level results for open schools. They are not pupil-weighted official local authority attainment rates.

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE

Attendance profile

Published Department for Education absence data for 2024/25. Lower absence rates are generally better.

2024/25
ABSENCE RATE

Overall absence

8.03%

Percentage of possible sessions missed.

1.81 pts higher than England
School 8.03%
County Durham 6.04%
North East 6.28%
England 6.22%
ABSENCE RATE

Persistent absence

20.86%

Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.

5.05 pts higher than England
School 20.86%
County Durham 15.78%
North East 16.04%
England 15.82%
ABSENCE RATE

Severe absence

2.32%

Pupils missing 50% or more of sessions.

0.51 pts higher than England
School 2.32%
County Durham 1.43%
North East 1.83%
England 1.80%
Council, regional and national comparisons are averages of published school-level percentages rather than pupil-weighted official absence rates.
Sources: Department for Education · Get Information about Schools · Ofsted monthly management information