Boldon School
Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DZ · South Tyneside · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 8 secondary schools in South Tyneside we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 2.6/10 against 322 of them, against 1.2/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 28.0 · 12 | 46% | 0.55 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.59 · 12 | 38% | 0.46 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 38.5 · 14 | 15% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Boldon School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 24.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 37.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.59 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (2.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 1.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
The school provides an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,043 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How is the after-school club structured to support academic revision or social development?
What Ofsted said about Boldon School
Overview
Boldon School is described as "improving" despite facing challenges from the pandemic and recent leadership changes. While the school provides "high-quality pastoral care" and a broad curriculum, inconsistencies in teaching and behaviour management have hindered pupil achievement, resulting in examination results below national averages.
Strengths
- Staff provide "high-quality pastoral care," ensuring pupils feel "safe and happy" with "warm relationships" between staff and students.
- The curriculum is "broad" and "sequenced so that pupils build their knowledge and skills over time," with high expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
- Pupils enjoy diverse opportunities to develop talents through clubs, sports, and the "Pride Collective," alongside a "detailed careers programme."
- Leaders have a "clear, inclusive vision" and staff value the increased focus on workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- Teachers must better identify and address "gaps in pupils’ knowledge" to ensure secure learning and memory of the curriculum.
- The school needs to strengthen its "underdeveloped" reading strategy, ensuring staff are trained to support weaker readers and embed a wider reading culture.
- Attendance remains "too high," particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, requiring intensified tracking and support efforts.
- Staff must apply the behaviour policy "consistently" to prevent low-level disruption and disengagement.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 40.4 |
| 2024/25 | 37.1 |
| 2025/26 | 38.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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