Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #9 in North Tyneside public Top 46% UK

John Spence Community High School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHead not listed

location_onNorth Shields, NE29 9PU

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

846

trending_up

Progress 8

-0.44

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#8 in North Tyneside

#2,696 of 4,676 nationally

summarize

John Spence Community High School is a Foundation school secondary school in North Shields, serving ages 11-16. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Pupils make below-average progress (Progress 8: -0.44).

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School Summary

John Spence Community High School is a foundation school in North Shields, North Tyneside, admitting pupils aged 11-16. The school has approximately 846 pupils on roll.

In 2024, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.2, placing the school #8 in North Tyneside and #2,696 of 4,676 nationally. Progress 8 was -0.44 — below-average pupil progress.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies. Teacher turnover in the previous year was 8.4%.

In the 2022/23 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 6.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.44

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc8.00%

EBacc APS3.48

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.38

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS3.71

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.59

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

41.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS3.56

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.53

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

43.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc55%

EBacc APS3.96

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.58

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

42.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39%

EBacc APS3.81

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)79%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment9%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment8%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

No digital report timeline available.

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-06-06

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-11-29

Exempt School Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2011-10-11

None Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

7.1%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 6.6% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

4.3%(36 pupils)

Summer term 2023

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.694% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Summer term of 2023, this school served a headcount of 847 pupils. During this period, there were 60 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 7.1%, which is above the termly national average of 6.6%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2022/23 (Summer term)	847	60	7.1%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	846	69	8.2%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	859	46	5.4%	5.9%	1
2021/22 (Summer term)	847	41	4.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	846	63	7.4%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	864	81	9.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	845	44	5.2%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	853	11	1.3%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	862	88	10.2%	3.9%	1
2019/20 (Summer term)	850	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	850	73	8.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	856	47	5.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	849	34	4.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	846	41	4.8%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	848	20	2.4%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	827	19	2.3%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	824	20	2.4%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	827	28	3.4%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	803	24	3.0%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	803	16	2.0%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	817	24	2.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

85.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

15.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree32%

agree47%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

don't know4%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree21%

agree49%

disagree17%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree34%

agree32%

disagree6%

strongly disagree9%

don't know2%

not applicable17%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree38%

agree34%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know15%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree43%

agree43%

disagree11%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree38%

agree45%

disagree11%

strongly disagree6%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree47%

disagree2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree47%

agree38%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree34%

agree38%

disagree15%

strongly disagree4%

don't know9%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no17%

Top Secondary Schools in North Tyneside

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Kings Priory School

Good

location_on North Shields, NE30 4RF

emoji_events #1 in LA

Marden High School

Good

location_on North Shields, NE30 3RZ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Whitley Bay High School

Outstanding

location_on Whitley Bay, NE25 9AS

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Thomas More Catholic High School

Good

location_on North Shields, NE29 8LF

emoji_events #4 in LA

George Stephenson High School

Good

location_on Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE12 6SA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Burnside College

Good

location_on Wallsend, NE28 7LQ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in North Tyneside arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in North Tyneside

Kings Priory School

Marden High School

Whitley Bay High School

St Thomas More Catholic High School

George Stephenson High School

Burnside College