Lift Unity City, Middlesbrough
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This school truly prioritises your child's wellbeing and safety, with staff who genuinely care about their personal development and character growth. The school has built strong systems to support vulnerable pupils, including those with additional needs, and is working hard to help every child access the curriculum. The new leadership team has brought positive change and stability, creating an environment where pupils behave well in lessons and benefit from improved relationships with staff.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on pupil safety and wellbeing with effective pastoral support through personal development coaches
- Improving attendance and behaviour through a mix of support and challenge, with special provisions like 'The Retreat' and 'Horizons' for anxious pupils
- Inclusive approach with dedicated mental health service and practical support for vulnerable pupils, including those with SEND
- New leadership team bringing clear purpose and stability after a period of disruption
- Personal development curriculum including 'adulting for beginners' with practical life skills
Areas for Improvement
- Academic achievement remains weak overall, though early signs of improvement are emerging
- Teaching quality is inconsistent, with some teachers not effectively checking how deeply pupils understand their learning
- Support for pupils' literacy and numeracy gaps is not yet consistently embedded across the school
- Some pupils express concerns about bullying and behaviour management
- Communication with some parents and support for pupils with SEND could be improved
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Cadets, chess club, LGBT club, indoor skydiving, horse riding
Lift Unity City is a school that has undergone significant leadership changes and is showing encouraging signs of improvement across behaviour, attendance and teaching. The school places pupils' safety and wellbeing at the centre of its work with an inclusive approach to supporting vulnerable students.
At a Glance
72.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.9
Avg class size
47
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
1,033 pupils
1,050 capacity
17 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Middlesbrough
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Middlesbrough
Admissions Demand - Middlesbrough
Places available
1,889
Applications
1,930
Got 1st preference
85.5%
Got preferred school
97.3%
Secondary admissions across Middlesbrough (2025/26)
Inspection History(118)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.84095%
Overall absence
42.17195%
Persistent absence
1,105
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lift Unity City
St Pius X Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Pallister Park Primary School
Park End Primary School
Berwick Hills Primary School
Corpus Christi RC Primary School
Thorntree Academy
Brambles Primary Academy
Pennyman Primary Academy
Ormesby Primary School
Saint Gabriel's Catholic Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.