Best Secondary Schools in Redcar and Cleveland 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 10 schools across Redcar and Cleveland. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Redcar and Cleveland has 10 open secondary schools. Of the 10 with a published Ofsted inspection, 2 (20%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 80% 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, Freebrough Academy 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 Redcar and Cleveland 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.

10
Total schools
2
Outstanding (historic grade)
20%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
64.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
32
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Freebrough Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 68 View school
🥈 Rye Hills Academy
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
🥉 Sacred Heart Catholic Secondary
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
4. Huntcliff School
Secondary
 Good 64 View school
5. Laurence Jackson School
Secondary
 Good 62 View school
6. Nunthorpe Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 51 View school
7. Outwood Academy Redcar
Secondary
 Good 49 View school
8. Outwood Academy Bydales
Secondary
 Outstanding 46 View school
9. St Peter's Catholic College
Secondary
 Good 45 View school
10. Outwood Academy Normanby
Secondary
 Inadequate 24 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 Redcar and Cleveland

Best primary schools in Redcar and ClevelandTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Redcar and ClevelandTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Redcar and ClevelandPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Redcar and ClevelandReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in MiddlesbroughCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HartlepoolCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Stockton-on-TeesCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in DarlingtonCompare 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 secondary schools are there in Redcar and Cleveland?
There are 10 open secondary schools in Redcar and Cleveland (closed schools are excluded). 2 of the 10 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 Redcar and Cleveland?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Redcar and Cleveland is Freebrough Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 10 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 Redcar and Cleveland?
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 Redcar and Cleveland?
Primary and secondary applications in Redcar and Cleveland 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 Redcar and Cleveland 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.