Grace College, Gateshead

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades Grace College on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 2 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Post 16 provision - Strong standard. "Leaders' astute and decisive actions to develop an 'associated sixth form' benefit Grace College students greatly."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to inclusion at Grace College."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a thorough programme to support pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils do not achieve as well as they could because they have gaps in their knowledge that are not being addressed quickly enough."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Some pupils do not attend school often enough."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "There is some variation in the quality of teaching."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "While leaders are focused on the right priorities, their actions to improve some aspects of the school's work are not yet having the impact that is needed."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure they improve pupils' attendance, including the rates of persistent and severe absence, so more pupils benefit from all the school has to offer"; "Leaders should improve teaching by ensuring that consistent adaptive teaching is embedded across the school, which results in all groups of pupils learning securely and progressing well through all areas of the curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers quickly identify and address the misconceptions and gaps in pupils' knowledge, including in the foundations of writing and mathematics"; "Leaders should improve and develop further their communications with stakeholders"; "Leaders, including governors, should ensure that the improvements made in behaviour and inclusion are embedded so that there is consistency in practice that has a greater impact on pupils".

In 2026, pupils at Grace College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.3 in Gateshead and 47 across England.

36% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in Gateshead and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.07: pupils made well below 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 28.7, against 47.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.9 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 134 families put Grace College as their first choice and 455 named it as one of their preferences, for 202 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Grace College are Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead (1.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 54.3); Emmanuel College (1.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59.8); XP Gateshead (2 miles, Attainment 8 48.4); and Kingsmeadow Community School (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Grace College.

Grace College is one of 5 schools run by Emmanuel Schools Foundation, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 42.9 in 2024/25.

124 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Grace College (as of April 2026): 69% would recommend the school, 69% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (76%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).

Of the 210 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 72% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 59% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 47 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 57% went on to university or other higher education, 11% to apprenticeships and 6% into work. 8% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

41.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 266 pupils (23.6%) received SEN support and 25 (2.2%) 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 Dunston Rail Station, about 2 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Saltwell Road South-Joseph Swan (n-bound), 40 metres away.

In 2024/25, Grace College issued 673 suspensions, 58.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Grace College are Oakfield Junior School (0.1 miles), Oakfield Infant School (0.2 miles), Kells Lane Primary School (0.6 miles) and Harlow Green Community Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.