National recognition for North East schools driving opportunity and inclusion
Schools in the North East continue to shine brightly on the national stage, showcasing a level of innovation, dedication, and excellence that truly sets them apart.
From groundbreaking approaches to pupil support to pioneering inclusion practices, our region’s schools are proving that high-quality education is not just about academic results, but about creating thriving communities where every child can flourish.
In the recent Schools White Paper and SEND consultation, case studies from North East schools demonstrated just how much our educators are leading the way, putting our education sector in a fantastic light and offering models that others across the country can learn from.
From highly effective pupil premium strategies that ensure every child receives the support they need to achieve their potential, to innovative inclusive practices that help children of all abilities to participate fully, feel valued, and reach their goals, these achievements showcase a commitment to excellence that is deeply embedded in our region’s educational culture.
Sunningdale Specialist School: Outreach and partnerships with mainstream settings
Sunningdale is specialist school in Sunderland is for children aged 2–11 with severe, profound, and multiple learning difficulties (SLD/ PMLD) and autism.
Over a decade ago, they established the SENhub as a dedicated centre for training, support, and outreach. Through the initiative, the school delivers effective evidence-based programmes for teachers, early years practitioners, and parents across both specialist and mainstream settings.
The offer is multi-faceted and includes school-to-school support, parent and family support, and a range of online and in-person training, development and information sharing events. Its outreach offer focuses on sharing the school’s exemplary internal practice by modelling inclusive strategies, advising on sensory and communication needs, and facilitating smooth transitions for children with SEND.
They’ve made available a wide range of workshops and bespoke sessions on curriculum design and engagement for pupils with severe, complex and profound learning difficulties. SENhub also offers support and advice regarding the development and practice of additional resource bases, and partners with the University of Northumbria to deliver a unique Initial Teacher Training programme for those pursuing careers in specialist education. This ensures that inclusive practice is embedded from the start of teacher development.
Regionally, Sunningdale School delivers a SEND focussed version of Early Career Framework, and serves as an effective model for the role of specialist provisions in supporting Children and Young People with SEND in being able to attend their local school while continuing to have their needs effectively met.
Tanfield School: Inclusive practice in schools
Tanfield School is a secondary school in County Durham which provides a range of support for children with SEND, particularly around transitions.
For children with SEND, the school works closely with their primary school to understand their needs and put in place support for when they begin, such as specialist group interventions for literacy and numeracy. This support can start as early as Year 4, with their school SENCO offering support such as information evenings, transition days, summer school, online hub access and additional visits from years 4 to 6.
Tanfield also has Year Managers that are dedicated to offering pastoral support to children and families to make the transition as smooth as possible, such as support on uniform, homework or wellbeing. This support extends throughout their time in school: inclusive high-quality teaching is regarded as foundational for student success, particularly for children with SEND.
To ensure learning is accessible to all, adaptations are made according to children’s individual needs, such as changes to teaching strategies, adjustments to the curriculum, or the use of recommended classroom aids. Tanfield also has a high proportion of disadvantaged students, but through their welcoming and engaging ethos, their students exceed academically.
Absence is lower than the national and local authority averages, and outcomes are well above national and local averages, with an Attainment 8 score of 57.5 compared to 46.0 nationally and 44.1 for their local authority. Tanfield School is also partnered with a school through the RISE programme to support continued improvement.
Oakdene Primary Academy: Developing an effective pupil premium strategy
Oakdene Primary Academy in Stockton-on-Tees supports a diverse community where almost half of children have been eligible for free school meals in the past 6 years. Over 80% of their pupil premium funding is spent on high-quality teaching interventions, such as providing CPD to teachers and support staff, with further spending on targeted reading, speech and language and writing interventions.
Daily classroom observations by school leaders allow them to identify opportunities for improvement in teaching practice. These lesson visits encourage ongoing conversations about assessment outcomes, enabling all staff to have a firm understanding about what each child needs to boost their success.
The school uses termly data points and regular conversations between staff and leaders as part of a trust wide cycle of improvement. They also conduct reviews to identify the most effective strategies to overcome barriers to learning, such as ensuring that disadvantaged children receive a high proportion of teaching from the most qualified and effective teachers, drawing on our guidance and EEF evidence.
This extends beyond disadvantaged children: for example, Oakdene supports children with SEND by assessing and identifying indicators of SEND at the earliest opportunity and working closely with outside agencies to adapt provision for these children.
Outcomes are significantly above the local and national averages, with 91% of all children and 91% of disadvantaged children meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2025. Oakdene also performs strongly for attendance with an overall attendance rate of over 97% at the start of the 2025 to 2026 academic year, ranking the school first among 21 similar schools.
A model for every school in England and beyond
Chris Zarraga, reflecting on the North East’s impact, said, “It’s inspiring to see how these schools are not just meeting the needs of their students, but rather exceeding expectations and setting benchmarks for the rest of the country. The creativity, commitment, and care on display here are a model for every school in England.”
These words capture the pride and admiration that educators and policymakers alike feel when witnessing the innovation coming out of our region. North East schools are not just participants in national conversations, they are shaping them.
Celebrating these achievements is more than recognition; it’s about setting a standard for others to follow. The stories from our schools demonstrate that excellence, inclusivity, and partnership are not separate goals. They are interconnected, and when combined, they create educational environments that are truly transformative.
As we look to the future, it’s clear that the North East is not only contributing to the national dialogue on education but leading it with distinction, creativity, and heart.
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