High Clarence Academy, Middlesbrough

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades High Clarence Academy on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically progress well from their starting points, and increasing numbers are achieving age-related expectations."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise attendance and communicate its importance to pupils and their families."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the last inspection, the curriculum has been through a period of significant change."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to ensuring all children get off to a good start."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "High Clarence Academy is an inclusive school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and ambitious vision for High Clarence Academy."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal, social and health education curriculum is well planned."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should take action to strengthen the handwriting support they provide for younger pupils so that improvements to handwriting happen more rapidly"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' attainment in writing by the end of key stage 2 is more closely aligned to their achievement in other curriculum areas, and in line with the national average"; "Leaders should build on their personal development offer to ensure that pupils' understanding of different places of worship and faiths is further strengthened".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I'm incredibly proud to be the Principal of High Clarence Primary School, a place where children are truly at the heart of everything we do. We are more than just a school-we are a caring, vibrant community where every child is nurtured, supported, and inspired to be the very best version of themselves."

The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.

In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at High Clarence Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 78% in Stockton-on-Tees and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 63% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 3 families put High Clarence Academy as their first choice, for 3 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to High Clarence Academy are Abingdon Primary School (1.4 miles, 68% reading, 74% maths); Newport Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 75% reading, 70% maths); Breckon Hill Primary School (1.6 miles, 76% reading, 82% maths); and Lift North Ormesby (1.6 miles, Outstanding, 66% reading, 72% maths).

High Clarence Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

High Clarence Academy is one of 32 schools run by The Enquire Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

64.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (82%) and Mixed (9%).

In 2026, 19 pupils (21.1%) received SEN support and 13 (14.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

High Clarence Academy has a SEN unit for other difficulties or disabilities and speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 9 pupils on roll.

High Clarence Academy had 6 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Middlesbrough Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is War Memorial (b), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood High Clarence Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, High Clarence Academy issued 1 suspension, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.