Secondary school

Whickham School

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–18
  • Mixed
  • Gateshead
  • NE16 5AR
  • Sixth form
Ofsted areas (no overall grade) · inspected Jan 2025 Top school 2024/25

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 630 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 20%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 20%20%2016/17: top 23%2017/18: top 33%2018/19: top 23%2021/22: top 21%2022/23: top 22%2023/24: top 22%2024/25: top 20%No exams

A-level results

#15 of 72 North East sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against North East

Attainment 853 · North East 45.210/10 Top 10%
Grade 5+ English and maths60% · North East 43.7%10/10 Top 10%+19.1 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.79 · North East 3.9310/10 Top 10%+8.2 pts since 21/22
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.26 · North East −0.219/10 Top 20%+18.4 pts since 18/19
A level points per entry35.89 · North East 33.39/10 Top 20%+21.1 pts since 21/22
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 55.1 · 240 pupils · North East 49.42016/17: 51.4 · 234 pupils · North East 45.12017/18: 49 · 211 pupils · North East 44.92018/19: 52.2 · 231 pupils · North East 45.52021/22: 55.3 · 258 pupils · North East 48.42022/23: 52.3 · 253 pupils · North East 45.32023/24: 52.4 · 266 pupils · North East 44.652024/25: 53 · 265 pupils · North East 45.255.349No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 44% · 234 pupils · North East 36%2017/18: 43% · 211 pupils · North East 39%2018/19: 50% · 231 pupils · North East 38%2021/22: 56% · 258 pupils · North East 47%2022/23: 47% · 253 pupils · North East 41%2023/24: 55.6% · 266 pupils · North East 42.5%2024/25: 60% · 265 pupils · North East 43.7%60%43%No exams
A level points per entry
2015/16: 30.79 · 114 pupils · North East 29.922016/17: 34.97 · 117 pupils · North East 30.512017/18: 36.8 · 97 pupils · North East 31.342018/19: 35.09 · 99 pupils · North East 32.232021/22: 38.21 · 121 pupils · North East 37.032022/23: 35.4 · 141 pupils · North East 33.292023/24: 34.41 · 113 pupils · North East 33.322024/25: 35.89 · 129 pupils · North East 33.338.2130.79No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in91.0%
263 of 289 who put it first2014 · 82.4%2026 · 91.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st289263
2nd29316
3rd1470

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2007–2025

  • Personal developmentGood
  • Quality of educationGood
  • Behaviour and attitudesGood
  • Sixth form provisionGood
  • Leadership and managementGood
  • SafeguardingEffective
  1. 2007Goodas predecessor
  2. 2010Goodas predecessor
  3. 2016Requires improvement
  4. 2016Ungraded visit
  5. 2018Good
  6. 2023Remains Good
  7. 2025All areas Good

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 20261,690
Free school meals (past 6 years)22.6%
First language not English7.6%
SEN support14.1%
EHC plan3.3%
Absence (sessions missed)8.1%
Persistently absent pupils21.1%

Girls 49.1%Boys 50.9%

98.7% full · 1,713 places · 336 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 1 Sep 2025 · 233 responses (13.5% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school91.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school95.3% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved92.7% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 72.1% not applicable56.9% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year85.4% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 23.2% not applicable84.9% agree
  • Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?24.9% yes
  • My child has SEND, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed · asked only of the 24.9% who said Yes above86.2% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child96.6% agree
  • My child does well at this school91.8% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing92.3% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school95.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school95.3% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development87.6% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent92.7% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher17.9
Pupils per adult12.6
  • Classroom teachers 84.3
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 20.3
  • Other support 43.2

Teachers 94.3 FTE · Whole workforce 157.8 · 172 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£7,170
Spend per pupil£7,186
Staff spend per pupil£5,606
Reserve per pupil£920
  • +£1,591,000revenue reserve
  • −£28,000in-year balance

Grants £7,099 · self-generated £234 · premises £430 per pupil

Single-academy trust: WHICKHAM SCHOOL AND SPORTS COLLEGE

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

266 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91.7%
  • Education86.5%
  • Apprenticeship4.1%
  • Employment1.1%
  • Not sustained6.8%
  • Unknown1.5%

After sixth form (16–18)

136 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained86.8%
  • Education51.5%
  • Higher education47.1%
  • Apprenticeship10.3%
  • Employment25%
  • Not sustained9.6%
  • Unknown3.7%