Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, Chester le Street
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
Ofsted · 9 months agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The school has created a safe, welcoming environment where pupils behave well, attend regularly, and feel cared for by staff. Attendance is notably above national average and the school provides excellent support for vulnerable pupils. Pupils benefit from a wide range of enrichment activities and are well prepared for their next steps in education and employment.
Key Strengths
- Excellent attendance rates, well above national averages, with strong systems to reduce absence
- Calm, respectful behaviour across the school with harmonious relationships between pupils and staff
- Improved achievement in recent years, particularly in languages and for disadvantaged pupils whose attainment is now above national average
- Wide range of enrichment activities including drama, creative writing, chess and outbound trips
- Effective support for vulnerable pupils including those with emotional and mental health needs
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers don't always check pupils' understanding precisely during lessons, missing opportunities to deepen learning
- Inconsistent application of support for some pupils with special educational needs means they don't always progress as well as they could
- Gaps remain between disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged pupils, though these have narrowed significantly
- Teaching adaptations are occasionally variable, meaning some pupils don't learn the curriculum as securely as possible
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils feel safe and secure.
Extracurricular Activities
Drama productions (Singing in the Snow), creative writing, chess, outward-bound trips, work experience, peer mentoring, sports leadership, anti-bullying ambassador roles, international trips
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy is a school where pupils feel safe and are making progress across the curriculum. Leaders have created a calm, orderly environment with strong attendance and improved behaviour.
At a Glance
31.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.8
Avg class size
56
Total classes
9 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
89%
Available places
1,334 pupils
1,496 capacity
162 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Chester le Street
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chester le Street
Admissions Demand - Gateshead
Places available
2,301
Applications
1,835
Got 1st preference
86.2%
Got preferred school
96.5%
Secondary admissions across Gateshead (2025/26)
Inspection History(9)
House Prices
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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
7.85452%
Overall absence
20.82645%
Persistent absence
1,210
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
St Joseph's Catholic Junior School, Birtley
Portobello Primary School
Ravensworth Terrace Primary School
St Joseph's Catholic Infant School, Birtley
Barley Mow Primary School
Holley Park Academy
Birtley East Community Primary School
Oxclose Primary Academy
Blackfell Primary School
St John Boste Catholic Primary School, Washington
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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