The Duchess's Community High School
Alnwick, NE66 2DH · Northumberland · secondary school
Check the area around this school
13th 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 878 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 0.6/10 among them, against 2.4/10 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 | 34.9 · 24 | 45% | 1.08 |
| Ofsted | 5 | 40% | 0.22 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.3 · 25 | 15% | 0.38 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Duchess's Community High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 37.5% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. The Attainment 8 score was 43.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Ofsted rated the school "Requires improvement" in December 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 1.0 out of 10 among them, against 3.4 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school offers theatre.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,276 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,651. 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 the current Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific actions are being taken to address the "Requires improvement" rating from the 2023 inspection? How does the theatre programme integrate with the wider curriculum?
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 43.2 |
| 2025/26 | 41.3 |
| 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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