Best Secondary Schools in Newcastle upon Tyne 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 12 schools across Newcastle upon Tyne. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Newcastle upon Tyne has 12 open secondary schools. Of the 11 with a published Ofsted inspection, 2 (18%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 73% 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, St Mary's Catholic School 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 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.

12
Total schools
2
Outstanding (historic grade)
18%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
65.7%
Avg KS2 SATs
37.9
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 St Mary's Catholic School
Secondary
 Outstanding 84 View school
🥈 Callerton Academy
Secondary
 Good 80 View school
🥉 Gosforth Academy
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
4. Jesmond Park Academy
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
5. St Cuthbert's High School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
6. Walbottle Academy
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
7. Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Secondary
 Outstanding 53 View school
8. Kenton School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 36 View school
9. Walker Riverside Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 32 View school
10. North East Futures UTC
Secondary
 — 32 View school
11. Benfield School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 29 View school
12. Studio West
Secondary
 Good 25 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 Newcastle upon Tyne

Best primary schools in Newcastle upon TyneTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Newcastle upon TyneTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Newcastle upon TynePrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Newcastle upon TyneReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in GatesheadCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in North TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in South TynesideCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SunderlandCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Newcastle upon Tyne

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Newcastle upon Tyne?
There are 12 open secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne (closed schools are excluded). 2 of the 11 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Newcastle upon Tyne is St Mary's Catholic School. The full ranked table above lists the top 12 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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
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 Newcastle upon Tyne?
Primary and secondary applications in Newcastle upon Tyne 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 Newcastle upon Tyne 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.