Ofsted: Good trending_up Popular emoji_events #2 in Gateshead public Top 9% UK

Whickham School

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

personMr Fraser Turnbull

corporate_fareWHICKHAM SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE

location_onNewcastle-upon-Tyne, NE16 5AR

language Visit Website phone 1914960026

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2025

groups

Students

1,676

trending_up

Attainment 8

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#2 in Gateshead

#620 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Whickham School is a Academy converter secondary school in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

Whickham School is an academy converter in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Gateshead, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of WHICKHAM SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE. The school has approximately 1,721 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 53, placing the school #2 in Gateshead and #620 of 3,216 nationally. 60.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 24.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 23 A-level subjects. 53.2% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 25.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.05 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2025. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 4 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 3.5 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)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

60.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)24.7%

Entering EBacc56.60%

EBacc APS4.79

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.26

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66.90%

EBacc APS4.82

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.15

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc64%

EBacc APS4.60

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.24

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

55.3

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc57%

EBacc APS4.8

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc56%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.06

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc51%

EBacc APS4.53

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc25%

EBacc APS4.07

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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.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

92%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

123

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*6.5%

Achieving A*–A25.0%

Achieving A*–B53.2%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate92.7%

A-level subjects offered23

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.03

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

101

Retention rate95.00%

2023

Avg Grade

B-

Students

139

Retention rate88.50%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

117

Retention rate94.0%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

14 January 2025

Inspection Report

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17 May 2023

Inspection Report

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27 February 2018

Inspection Report

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22 June 2016

Inspection Report

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12 January 2016

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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13 October 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

5 Evaluations

2025-01-14

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-02-27

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2016-06-22

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-01-12

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2010-11-22

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

3.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.4%(41 pupils)

Spring term 2025

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

Permanent Exclusions

2pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,721 pupils. During this period, there were 60 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 3.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,721	60	3.5%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,721	59	3.4%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,658	38	2.3%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,673	53	3.2%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,686	57	3.4%	8.2%	3
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,668	37	2.2%	6.6%	5
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,676	39	2.3%	6.4%	2
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,682	27	1.6%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,684	30	1.8%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,694	24	1.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,720	28	1.6%	4.4%	3
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,695	22	1.3%	3.6%	3
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,705	21	1.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,706	33	1.9%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,601	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,601	18	1.1%	3.2%	3
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,604	23	1.4%	4.2%	3
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,539	15	1.0%	3.1%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,553	15	1.0%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,563	17	1.1%	3.8%	3
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,508	11	0.7%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,530	10	0.7%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,558	14	0.9%	3.7%	8
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,567	10	0.6%	3.0%	3
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,579	32	2.0%	3.3%	3
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,596	35	2.2%	3.1%	1

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

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 90 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 85 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 28 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 27 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 13 pupils

Physical Disability 11 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 2 pupils

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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.

91.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree43%

agree46%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree41%

agree45%

disagree11%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree42%

agree24%

disagree10%

strongly disagree4%

don't know1%

not applicable20%

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

yes20%

no80%

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

strongly agree48%

agree32%

disagree10%

strongly disagree8%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree62%

agree32%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree58%

agree33%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree53%

agree40%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

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

strongly agree58%

agree38%

disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree56%

agree39%

disagree3%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree42%

agree43%

disagree6%

strongly disagree2%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes91%

no9%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

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)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

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

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Gateshead

Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead

St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

Thorp Academy

Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy

Kingsmeadow Community School

Grace College