Whitworth Park Academy, Spennymoor

In 2026, pupils at Whitworth Park Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.6 in County Durham and 47 across England.

54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 42% in County Durham and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 50.4.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.01: pupils made about 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 46.1, against 53.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 7.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Art and Design, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 219 families put Whitworth Park Academy as their first choice and 334 named it as one of their preferences, for 218 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Whitworth Park Academy are Ferryhill School (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.7); Aycliffe Secure Centre (2.7 miles); Parkside Academy (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42); and King James I Academy Bishop Auckland (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.1).

Whitworth Park Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 3 of them.

Whitworth Park Academy is one of 23 schools run by Advance Learning Partnership, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.3 in 2024/25.

Of the 130 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 57% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

37.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 3.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 203 pupils (20.4%) received SEN support and 25 (2.5%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Bishop Auckland Rail Station, about 3.6 miles away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Four Lane Ends (ne-bound), 120 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 188 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in County Durham (84), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Whitworth Park Academy issued 30 suspensions, 3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Whitworth Park Academy are Middlestone Moor Academy (0.2 miles), Rosa Street Primary and Nursery Academy (0.3 miles), King Street Primary School (0.8 miles) and North Park Primary School (1 mile). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.