Best Secondary Schools in Gateshead 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 9 schools across Gateshead. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Gateshead has 9 open secondary schools. Of the 8 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (13%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 75% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Gateshead follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

9
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
13%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
65.9%
Avg KS2 SATs
36.8
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Secondary
 Outstanding 76 View school
🥈 St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
🥉 Thorp Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
4. Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
5. Kingsmeadow Community School
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
6. Whickham School
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
7. XP Gateshead
Secondary
 — 50 View school
8. Grace College
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 46 View school
9. Heworth Grange School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 33 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Gateshead

Best primary schools in GatesheadTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in GatesheadTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in GatesheadPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in GatesheadReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Newcastle upon TyneCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in South TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in North TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SunderlandCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Gateshead?
There are 9 open secondary schools in Gateshead (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 8 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Gateshead?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Gateshead is Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead. The full ranked table above lists the top 9 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Gateshead?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Gateshead?
Primary and secondary applications in Gateshead are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Gateshead council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.