River Tees Secondary Academy, Middlesbrough
River Tees Secondary Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Middlesbrough, part of River Tees Multi-Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
River Tees Secondary Academy in detail
Getting a place at River Tees Secondary Academy
Across Middlesbrough, 84% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 96% were offered one of the schools they named.
In 2026, families in Middlesbrough lodged 88 appeals against secondary school offers; 78 reached a hearing and 6 succeeded (7.7% of those heard).
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to River Tees Secondary Academy are Lift Unity City (0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 36.9); Outwood Academy Ormesby (0.9 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 36.1); Outwood Academy Normanby (1.6 miles, Inadequate, Attainment 8 36.5); and St Peter's Catholic College (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 38.6).
Lift Unity CityOutwood Academy OrmesbyOutwood Academy NormanbySt Peter's Catholic College
The trust
River Tees Secondary Academy is one of 5 schools run by River Tees Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about River Tees Secondary Academy (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that the school has high expectations for their child (93%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 20 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 35% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 30% to a further education college.
Who goes there
57.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 10 pupils (6.7%) received SEN support and 17 (11.3%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is James Cook Rail Station, about 1000 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ormesby Grange Care Home (a), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood River Tees Secondary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to River Tees Secondary Academy are Pallister Park Primary School (0.3 miles); St Pius X Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles); Corpus Christi RC Primary School (0.5 miles); and Berwick Hills Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Pallister Park Primary SchoolSt Pius X Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary AcademyCorpus Christi RC Primary SchoolBerwick Hills Primary School
Sources: DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
River Tees changes pupils' lives by helping those who have missed schooling or struggled elsewhere to become confident learners. Staff genuinely care, listen to pupils, and set high expectations that pupils meet. The school provides a well-rounded education with daily reading, strong careers guidance, and enrichment opportunities, preparing pupils well for their next steps into college or employment.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally well-designed curriculum that meets different pupil needs and closes learning gaps
- Consistent, high-quality teaching across all subjects with strong focus on reading fluency
- Pupils show excellent behaviour, respect and focus on learning despite previous difficulties managing behaviour
- Ambitious careers programme with work placements helping pupils achieve positive GCSE outcomes
- Inclusive community celebrating diversity where pupils feel safe and supported
Areas for Improvement
- A small group of pupils continue to have low attendance despite the school's best efforts to support attendance
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with staff creating an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
School trips, residential stays, after-school clubs, work placements, Target Tuesdays (personal development sessions)
River Tees Secondary Academy is an outstanding school that transforms the lives of pupils who have previously struggled with education. All key areas - quality of education, behaviour, personal development, and leadership - have been rated as outstanding.
At a Glance
57.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
15 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with River Tees Secondary Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to River Tees Secondary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. River Tees Secondary Academy is in Middlesbrough; for families living there:
Apply to Middlesbrough for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Middlesbrough is 14 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
167%
Over capacity
150 pupils
90 places
60 pupils over capacity
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Middlesbrough
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Middlesbrough
Across Middlesbrough council
Places available
1,884
Applications
1,913
Got 1st preference
84.3%
Got preferred school
96.3%
All secondary applications across Middlesbrough council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
10
SEN Support
17
EHC Plans
18.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
150
Total Pupils
80
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
15
Teachers
10.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,523
Mean salary
2026 data
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
River Tees Secondary Academy
Showing 10 of 14 linked schools
Questions parents ask about River Tees Secondary Academy
What is River Tees Secondary Academy's Ofsted rating?
River Tees Secondary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for River Tees Secondary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When River Tees Secondary Academy is oversubscribed, Middlesbrough allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to River Tees Secondary Academy?
River Tees Secondary Academy has around 150 pupils on roll. 57% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to River Tees Secondary Academy?
Apply through Middlesbrough's coordinated admissions process, naming River Tees Secondary Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near River Tees Secondary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 9 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Middlesbrough is 14 (the median across 64 schools, same distance and years).
Where is River Tees Secondary Academy?
River Tees Secondary Academy is at Sulby Avenue, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, TS3 8RD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)