Keelman's Way School
Foundation special school in Hebburn (South Tyneside).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
iWritten by WhatSchool from official school data (Get Information about Schools, DfE and Ofsted).On behalf of the children, staff and Governors of our school it is a pleasure to welcome you to Keelmans Way School website. Keelman's Way School is a nurturing, educational and therapeutic community for pupils aged 2 to 19 and their families. We provide relevant and stimulating experiences to support pupil's progress and personal development.
The majority of pupils have severe learning difficulties; many have complex or profound needs. Our young people leave school having gained skills that allow them to access the adult world confidently with their highest level of independence.
Enrichment
3 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Athletics
- Football
- Judo
Awards
3 awardsiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Healthy SchoolsHealth and wellbeing
- Inclusion Quality MarkInclusion
- UNICEF Rights Respecting SchoolsChildren's rights
Key facts
- URN
- 136252
- Type
- Foundation special school
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Ages
- 2 to 19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Has a sixth form
- Nursery
- Has Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- South Tyneside
- Constituency
- Jarrow and Gateshead East
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 2012
Governing body (9 current, 2 former)
Special schools governing body.
6 governors are linked to a profile (5 confirmed, 1 (likely)).
Governors marked “Confirmed same person” have exactly the same forename and surname as the only officer of that name at the school’s own academy trust company on the Companies House register, so we treat them as the same person. The governance record itself comes from DfE.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Phillip Johnson (likely) | Chair of Governors | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2020 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mrs Melanie King Confirmed same person | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2025 · until 2028 |
| Ms Ashley Scott | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Ms Alexandra Laverick | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Miss Sara Padden Confirmed same person | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Justin Laidler Confirmed same person | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Jillian Mordue Confirmed same person | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2020 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Emily Jane Royle | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2017 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Dianne Staincliffe | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2014 · until 2026 ends 2026 |
| Mrs Ruth Spence Former | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Melanie Waites Confirmed same person Former | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2020 · term ended 2025 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 1 November 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record