Ashington Academy, Ashington

In 2026, pupils at Ashington Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.9 in Northumberland and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Northumberland and 47% in England.

That is up from 47.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.46: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 45.1, against 50 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 4.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and French.

For September 2026 entry, 204 families put Ashington Academy as their first choice and 271 named it as one of their preferences, for 203 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Ashington Academy are NCEA Duke's Secondary School (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 36.3); Bedlington Academy (2.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.6); St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.6); and The Blyth Academy (3.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.7).

Ashington Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Ashington Academy is one of 15 schools run by North East Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.9 in 2024/25.

133 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ashington Academy (as of April 2026): 96% would recommend the school, 96% say their child is happy there and 79% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (96%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (79%).

Of the 167 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 58% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 46 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 61% went on to university or other higher education, 17% to apprenticeships and 15% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

33.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 173 pupils (17.9%) received SEN support and 22 (2.3%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Ashington Rail Station, about 650 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ashington High School (near), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 207 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Northumberland (44), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ashington Academy issued 190 suspensions, 19.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Ashington Academy are Bothal Academy (0.4 miles), Central Academy (0.5 miles), NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School (0.8 miles) and Ringway Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.