Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #9 in County Durham public Top 15% UK

Hermitage Academy

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

personMrs Lindsay Maughan

corporate_fareNORTH EAST LEARNING TRUST

location_onChester le Street, DH2 3AD

language Visit Website

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

1,041

trending_up

Attainment 8

49.1

leaderboard

GCSE Rank

#10 in County Durham

#1,055 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Hermitage Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Chester le Street, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

article

School Summary

Hermitage Academy is an academy converter in Chester le Street, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of NORTH EAST LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 932 pupils on roll, of whom 31% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 49.1, placing the school #10 in County Durham and #1,055 of 3,216 nationally. 43.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 18.7% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 30.6% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 11.7% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.06 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. 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.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.8× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 14.9:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 9 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 10.2 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

49.1

Grade 5+ E&M

43.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)18.7%

Entering EBacc64.70%

EBacc APS4.39

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc63.90%

EBacc APS4.35

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.1

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS3.83

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc34%

EBacc APS4.26

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc28%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

explore

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

89%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)76%

Apprenticeships9%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)85%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)7%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

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

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

workspace_premium

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

-0.06

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*1.8%

Achieving A*–A11.7%

Achieving A*–B30.6%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate82.2%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate89.80%

2023

Avg Grade

C-

Students

Retention rate93.80%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate92.7%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

12 March 2024

Inspection Report

picture_as_pdf Download PDF

Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-03-12

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2018-10-30

Exempt School Inspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2007-10-11

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

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

11.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.9%(36 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 932 pupils. During this period, there were 105 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 11.3%, which is above 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)	932	105	11.3%	7.3%	2
2024/25 (Autumn term)	945	86	9.1%	7.8%	7
2023/24 (Summer term)	995	31	3.1%	7.4%	6
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,000	55	5.5%	7.1%	3
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,018	79	7.8%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,022	39	3.8%	6.6%	2
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,041	25	2.4%	6.4%	4
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,048	28	2.7%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,040	28	2.7%	4.7%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,050	21	2.0%	4.9%	3
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,054	22	2.1%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,023	14	1.4%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,024	2	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,034	14	1.4%	3.9%	4
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,083	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,083	7	0.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,108	27	2.4%	4.2%	2

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

accessibility_new

psychology_alt

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.

Moderate Learning Difficulty 52 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 48 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 37 pupils

Physical Disability 3 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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.

64.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

73.0%Positive

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

19.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree26%

agree39%

disagree18%

strongly disagree14%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree22%

agree30%

disagree25%

strongly disagree18%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree24%

agree18%

disagree18%

strongly disagree22%

don't know3%

not applicable16%

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

yes31%

no69%

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

strongly agree26%

agree6%

disagree28%

strongly disagree38%

dont know3%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree40%

agree28%

disagree13%

strongly disagree12%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree32%

disagree21%

strongly disagree11%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree29%

agree36%

disagree16%

strongly disagree17%

don't know1%

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

strongly agree29%

agree51%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree44%

agree41%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree21%

disagree18%

strongly disagree17%

don't know11%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes56%

no44%

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Requires improvement

location_on Durham, DH1 4NG

emoji_events #1 in LA

Tanfield School

Inadequate

location_on Stanley, DH9 8AY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Outstanding

location_on Durham, DH1 4SU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Belmont Community School

Good

location_on Durham, DH1 2AG

emoji_events #4 in LA

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Outstanding

location_on Peterlee, SR8 1AU

emoji_events #5 in LA

Easington Academy

Good

location_on Peterlee, SR8 3AY

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in County Durham arrow_forward

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 County Durham

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Tanfield School

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Belmont Community School

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Easington Academy