The Dales School food hygiene rating
School/college/university · Northumberland
The Dales School holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the school kitchen met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 30 January 2025, 17 months ago. Councils typically re-inspect higher-risk businesses every six months to two years, with well-run, low-risk places visited least often, so this is a normal gap.
Address: Cowpen Road, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 4RE
How it compares in Northumberland
That puts The Dales School among the 2,779 places in Northumberland holding top marks, 90% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 2,779 | 90% | ← The Dales School | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 214 | 7% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 67 | 2% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | <1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 8 | <1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 2 | <1% |
A further 397 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Very good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Very good
- How well they manage food safety Very good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Dales School none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Food hygiene ratings nearby
The closest food businesses to The Dales School, nearest first, so you can see how it compares to its neighbours.
| Business | Distance | Rating | Inspected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blythgate Manor Caring Premises | 233 yards away | 5 - Very good | 15 January 2026 |
| Blyth Riverside Resource Centre Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 283 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 February 2025 |
| Asda Retailers - supermarkets/hypermarkets | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 5 December 2024 |
| Asda Cafe Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen | 306 yards away | 5 - Very good | 8 May 2026 |
| Blyth Academy School/college/university | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 21 November 2025 |
| Bebside Inn Pub/bar/nightclub | 0.3 miles away | 5 - Very good | 16 June 2023 |
| Briardale House Other catering premises | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 19 February 2026 |
| Best One Retailers - other | 0.4 miles away | 5 - Very good | 18 May 2026 |
Questions about The Dales School
What is The Dales School's food hygiene rating?
The Dales School has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Northumberland Council on 30 January 2025.
Is The Dales School safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this school kitchen to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Dales School last inspected?
The Dales School was last inspected on 30 January 2025, 17 months ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Northumberland Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Dales School?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "very good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "very good", and confidence in the management of food safety "very good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Dales School compare to other places in Northumberland?
90% of the 3,077 rated food businesses in Northumberland hold the top rating of 5, and The Dales School is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Northumberland Council inspects The Dales School and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Dales School and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Dales School is one of 284 rated food businesses in Blyth. See every hygiene rating in Blyth →
Northumberland inspects and rates 3,474 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Northumberland →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →