Kingsmeadow Community School, Gateshead

Ofsted's report card from its 13 January 2026 inspection grades Kingsmeadow Community School on 7 areas: 6 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Typically, pupils build up suitable knowledge of the subjects they study."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance has remained stable this year following significant and rapid improvement previously for all groups of pupils."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have fostered an inclusive culture where staff know pupils' barriers."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including those with responsibility for governance, work collectively to ensure that pupils and staff share a sense of belonging to the school community."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have put an appropriate personal development programme into place."

Post 16 provision - Needs attention. "Sometimes, students do not get the opportunities that they need to consistently develop understanding of the subject content they encounter or the skills they need to work independently."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that all staff have the knowledge and expertise that they need to deliver the curriculum consistently well, including providing support for those pupils who face additional barriers to learning. • Leaders should ensure that staff consistently provide the opportunities that pupils need to gain knowledge, deepen their understanding and acquire the skills that they need to progress and achieve well in the qualifications that they study".

In its own words: "We work closely with parents and carers to open future doors of opportunities for all our students. Working together, we develop our students’ character and skills whilst striving for academic excellence so that they can enjoy success and positively contribute to the community and wider society. We will help you to achieve small successes, and value effort over achievement."

From the headteacher's welcome: "There is a proud sense of community in Dunston and the surrounding areas. As our community grows, thanks to the development of new housing and industry in Gateshead, we are equally proud to welcome new and existing families to our school."

In 2026, pupils at Kingsmeadow Community School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.3 in Gateshead and 47 across England.

43% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in Gateshead and 47% in England.

That is up from 42.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.75: 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 40.6, against 49.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Spanish and History.

For September 2026 entry, 136 families put Kingsmeadow Community School as their first choice and 333 named it as one of their preferences, for 175 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Kingsmeadow Community School are Emmanuel College (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59.8); Whickham School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.2); North East Futures UTC (1.9 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 29.8); and St Cuthbert's High School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.9).

Kingsmeadow Community School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

81 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kingsmeadow Community School (as of April 2026): 84% would recommend the school, 79% say their child is happy there and 56% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (56%).

Of the 164 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 76% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 62% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 4% into work.

Of the 37 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 49% went on to university or other higher education, 3% to apprenticeships and 30% into work.

50.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 146 pupils (16.8%) received SEN support and 22 (2.5%) 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 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kingsmeadow Community School (s-bound), 50 metres away.

In 2024/25, Kingsmeadow Community School issued 359 suspensions, 39.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 11 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Kingsmeadow Community School are Dunston Hill Community Primary School (under 0.1 miles); Riverside Primary Academy (0.6 miles); St Philip Neri Catholic Primary School, Dunston (0.7 miles); and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Whickham (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.