Grace College
Gateshead, NE9 6LE · Gateshead · secondary school
Check the area around this school
7th of 8 secondary schools in Gateshead we can score, 9 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 2.5/10 against 490 of them, against 1.6/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 10 | 35% | 0.35 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.7 · 26 | 30% | 0.79 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -1.07 · 2 | 25% | 0.05 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.1 · 20 | 10% | 0.20 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Grace College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 41.0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. The Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -1.07, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.6 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,125 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,432. 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 steps are taken to improve progress scores for students from similar backgrounds? How does the new Ofsted framework influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about Grace College
Overview
Grace College is described as "improving," with leaders having raised expectations and improved the curriculum and inclusion systems. The school benefits from a "high-quality post-16 provision" at an associated sixth form, where students make secure progress. However, significant challenges remain regarding attendance, teaching consistency, and the speed of improvements in some areas.
Strengths
- Post-16 students benefit greatly from the "associated sixth form," receiving "high-quality pastoral support" and an "ambitious" curriculum.
- The school is "typically calm and orderly," with clear routines and a growing sense of belonging among pupils.
- Leaders have developed a "thorough programme" for personal development, including relevant PSHE content and opportunities for character building.
- Staff receive "research-informed professional learning," and there is a strong commitment to supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must improve attendance, particularly for those who are "persistently or severely absent," as current rates are much higher than the national average.
- Teaching quality varies; leaders need to embed "consistent adaptive teaching" so all pupils learn securely and gaps in foundational knowledge are addressed quickly.
- Leaders should improve communications with stakeholders and ensure recent improvements in behaviour and inclusion are fully embedded for greater impact.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with an "open culture" where concerns are actively identified and managed, ensuring pupils feel safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 35.4 |
| 2024/25 | 42.9 |
| 2025/26 | 40.1 |
| 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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