Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Northumberland 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 175 schools across Northumberland. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Northumberland has 175 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 167 with a published Ofsted inspection, 15 (9%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 93% 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, Slaley First 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 Northumberland 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.

175
Total schools
15
Outstanding (historic grade)
9%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
60.2%
Avg KS2 SATs
35
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Slaley First School
Primary
 Good 88 View school
2. Whalton Church of England Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 88 View school
3. Beaufront First School
Primary
 Good 86 View school
4. Humshaugh Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 85 View school
5. Kielder Primary School and Nursery
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
6. Greenhaugh Primary School
Primary
 Good 84 View school
7. St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Prudhoe
Primary
 Good 84 View school
8. Whitley Chapel Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
9. Swarland Primary School
Primary
 Good 83 View school
10. Haltwhistle Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
11. Darras Hall Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
12. Chollerton Church of England Aided First School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
13. Harbottle Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
14. Tritlington Church of England First School
Primary
 Good 81 View school
15. Broomley First School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
16. Corbridge Middle School
Middle deemed secondary
 Outstanding 80 View school
17. Horton Grange Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 80 View school
18. Otterburn Primary School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
19. Longhorsley St Helen's Church of England Aided First School
Primary
 Good 79 View school
20. Mickley First School
Primary
 Good 79 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 Northumberland

Best primary schools in NorthumberlandTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in NorthumberlandTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in NorthumberlandReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in NorthumberlandYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

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

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

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Northumberland?
There are 175 open primary & secondary schools in Northumberland (closed schools are excluded). 15 of the 167 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 primary & secondary schools in Northumberland?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Northumberland is Slaley First School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 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 Northumberland?
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 Northumberland?
Primary and secondary applications in Northumberland 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 Northumberland 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.