Queen Elizabeth High School
Hexham, NE46 3JB · Northumberland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th of 16 secondary schools in Northumberland we can score, 27 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 the 704 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.6/10 among them, against 6.9/10 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 | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 52.9 · 69 | 30% | 2.06 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.27 · 70 | 25% | 1.76 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 49.4 · 68 | 10% | 0.68 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Queen Elizabeth High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 52.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.27 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in June 2024. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.8 out of 10 among them, against 7.1 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the QEHS Rowing Club and QEHS Youth Theatre, or play tennis, pickle ball, badminton, table tennis, 5-a-side football, basketball, netball, and volleyball.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,299 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,308. 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 improve their attainment relative to similar-intake schools? What specific support is available for students aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Queen Elizabeth High School
Overview
The report describes Queen Elizabeth High School as a “welcoming, supportive and positive place to learn” where pupils benefit from a “rich and broad curriculum.” Inspectors found that most pupils learn effectively and achieve well in national assessments, with the large sixth form sending many students to “competitive courses at university.” The school is judged as “Good” across all inspection categories, including leadership, behaviour, and personal development.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ambitious and gradually becomes more complex, helping pupils build knowledge and make connections in subjects such as English, mathematics, and geography.
- An “extensive” range of enrichment opportunities, including the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, theatre visits, and a school musical, supports pupils to thrive.
- Pupils behave very well and feel safe, contributing to a “calm and orderly” school environment that supports learning.
- The careers programme for sixth-form students is “wide ranging and highly effective,” with students described as “confident and articulate.”
- Trustees are “well informed” and effectively challenge and support the school, ensuring continuity of transition between the middle and high school.
Areas to improve
- The school should develop strategies to better check pupils’ understanding across all subjects, as current variation means gaps in learning for some disadvantaged pupils are not always identified.
- The careers programme for Years 9 to 11 needs strengthening so that all pupils have a deeper knowledge of careers and the world of work.
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 | 54.3 |
| 2024/25 | 50.7 |
| 2025/26 | 49.4 |
| 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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