Whickham School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

In its own words: "“Whickham, a school to be proud of at the heart of the community. Where learning is cherished in a safe, caring and supportive environment. A school where everyone is valued and inspired to be the best they can be.” Leaders have identified long term school improvement priorities and short term priorities."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your family to Whickham School. We are a school at the heart of our local community that ensures that every young person develops into a well-rounded citizen who is able to make the most of their unique talents and abilities."

In 2026, pupils at Whickham School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.3 in Gateshead and 47 across England.

56% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in Gateshead and 47% in England.

That is down from 53 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.26: 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 41.9, against 53.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.3 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 289 families put Whickham School as their first choice and 729 named it as one of their preferences, for 279 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 26 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Whickham School are Kingsmeadow Community School (1.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.1); Emmanuel College (1.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59.8); St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 52); and Excelsior Academy (2.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 34.4).

Whickham School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Whickham School is run by its own single-school academy trust.

233 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Whickham School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 69% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (69%).

Of the 266 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 136 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 47% went on to university or other higher education, 10% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 18% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

7.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Whickham School has a resourced provision for autism: 16 places, 16 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Metrocentre Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Whickham School (nw-bound), 170 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 86 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).

In 2024/25, Whickham School issued 175 suspensions, 10.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 6 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Whickham School are Fellside Community Primary School (0.2 miles), Whickham Parochial Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles), Front Street Community Primary School (0.5 miles) and Clover Hill Community Primary School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.