Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham

In its own words: "This statement presents the intentions we have in educating the young people who attend our schools - Hexham Middle School and Queen Elizabeth High School - and gives an insight into how we seek to fulfil these intentions. This is a friendly, welcoming school, built on foundations of mutual respect and care for others."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Queen Elizabeth High School has been at the heart of Hexham and the surrounding communities for more than 400 years. Throughout that time, generations of young people have come here to learn, grow and prepare for their next steps in life. It is a school with a proud history, but one that is always looking forward."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open day on Thursday 10 December 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Queen Elizabeth High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.9 in Northumberland and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 41% in Northumberland and 47% in England.

That is down from 50.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.27: pupils made above 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 35.8, against 52.4 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, History and Spanish.

For September 2018 entry, 270 families put Queen Elizabeth High School as their first choice and 304 named it as one of their preferences, for 270 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Queen Elizabeth High School are St Joseph's Catholic Middle School, Hexham (0.1 miles); Hexham Middle School (0.7 miles, Good); and Corbridge Middle School (3.8 miles, Outstanding).

Queen Elizabeth High School is one of 2 schools run by Hadrian Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 307 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 190 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 38% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 28% into work. 31% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 52 pupils (4%) received SEN support and 43 (3.3%) 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 Hexham Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whetstone Bridge Road (nb), 80 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Queen Elizabeth High School issued 278 suspensions, 21.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Queen Elizabeth High School are St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham (0.5 miles); The Sele First School (0.5 miles); Hexham First School (1.2 miles); and Acomb First School (1.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.