Secondary school

Parkside Academy

  • Academy Converter
  • ages 11–16
  • Mixed
  • Durham
  • DL15 0QF
  • No sixth form
Ofsted Good · inspected Sep 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,401 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 43%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 21%21%2016/17: top 30%2017/18: top 30%2018/19: top 53%2021/22: top 42%2022/23: top 36%2023/24: top 66%2024/25: top 43%No exams

Against North East

Attainment 846.9 · North East 45.27/10 Above
Grade 5+ English and maths56.3% · North East 43.7%9/10 Top 20%+5.6 pts since 21/22
EBacc point score4.01 · North East 3.936/10 Middle
Progress 8 · 2023/24+0.01 · North East −0.217/10 Above−23 pts since 18/19
Show exam results by year

No exams 2019/20–21

Attainment 8
2015/16: 55 · 147 pupils · North East 49.42016/17: 49.6 · 115 pupils · North East 45.12017/18: 49.9 · 116 pupils · North East 44.92018/19: 45.6 · 135 pupils · North East 45.52021/22: 49.9 · 158 pupils · North East 48.42022/23: 48.7 · 165 pupils · North East 45.32023/24: 42.6 · 169 pupils · North East 44.652024/25: 46.9 · 174 pupils · North East 45.25542.6No exams
Grade 5+ English and maths
2016/17: 47% · 115 pupils · North East 36%2017/18: 59% · 116 pupils · North East 39%2018/19: 37% · 135 pupils · North East 38%2021/22: 58% · 158 pupils · North East 47%2022/23: 45% · 165 pupils · North East 41%2023/24: 32.5% · 169 pupils · North East 42.5%2024/25: 56.3% · 174 pupils · North East 43.7%59%32.5%No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
102 of 102 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st102102
2nd819
3rd320

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2008–2023

  1. 2008Satisfactoryas predecessor
  2. 2011Outstandingas predecessor
  3. 2023Good

4 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

4 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026833
Free school meals (past 6 years)39.6%
First language not English0.6%
SEN support11.0%
EHC plan2.4%
Absence (sessions missed)11.5%
Persistently absent pupils32.1%

Girls 48%Boys 52%

92.6% full · 900 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 141 responses (15.4% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school68.8% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school70.2% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved49.6% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 45.4% not applicable37.7% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year49.7% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 11.3% not applicable52.8% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed47.7% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child65.2% agree
  • My child does well at this school69.5% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing58.9% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school78.7% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school89.4% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development54.6% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent61.7% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher14.7
Pupils per adult11.9
  • Classroom teachers 46.6
  • Leadership 10
  • Teaching assistants 7.4
  • Other support 25.2

Teachers 56.6 FTE · Whole workforce 89.2 · 99 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£9,172
Spend per pupil£8,738
Staff spend per pupil£6,419
Reserve per pupil£1,362
  • +£1,203,000revenue reserve
  • +£383,000in-year balance

Grants £8,668 · self-generated £504 · premises £102 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: ADVANCE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP (22 academies) · trust reserve £9,036,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

169 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained88.8%
  • Education79.3%
  • Apprenticeship4.1%
  • Employment5.3%
  • Not sustained8.9%
  • Unknown2.4%