Most young people have big dreams and big plans for the future - and any parent would naturally want to send them to a school that nurtures that.
But not all schools are made equal, and with sometimes overlapping catchment areas, you and your child may be facing a tough choice. Especially so for secondary schools, which will usually see young people through their GCSE and A Level exams, and the university admission process.
We’re taking a look at the top-rated secondary schools around the country to help inform that decision, starting with the North East. While there are plenty of fantastic facilities on offer, we’ve chosen a selection of schools all rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted - meaning the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding have all been found to be excellent.
On top of that, we’ve narrowed it down based on school’s ‘Progress 8’ ratings.
These ratings are based on GCSE results and other student achievements, to determine how quickly students at each school learn and progress compared to a nationwide average.
Any score above 0 is above average, and we’ve only included schools with positive scores overall, according to official government data.
Here’s what we we found:
But not all schools are made equal, and with sometimes overlapping catchment areas, you and your child may be facing a tough choice. Especially so for secondary schools, which will usually see young people through their GCSE and A Level exams, and the university admission process.
![St Mary’s is a mixed, Roman Catholic academy in Newcastle.
It has a high Progress 8 Score of 0.47, marking it firmly in the ‘above average’ category.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/27/14/11/stmarys.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
13. St Mary's Catholic School
St Mary’s is a mixed, Roman Catholic academy in Newcastle. It has a high Progress 8 Score of 0.47, marking it firmly in the ‘above average’ category. | Google
![Outwood Academy Bydales is a mixed academy in Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland. It doesn’t offer sixth form studies.
Outwood had a Progress 8 score of 0.11 last year, which - while still positive - landed it in the ‘average’ band.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/27/14/57/outwood.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
14. Outwood Academy Bydales
Outwood Academy Bydales is a mixed academy in Marske-by-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland. It doesn’t offer sixth form studies. Outwood had a Progress 8 score of 0.11 last year, which - while still positive - landed it in the ‘average’ band. | Google
![Egglesfield is a mixed academy in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees.
It has special recognition for its performing arts programme.
Egglescliffe has a Progress 8 score of 0.21, putting it in the ‘above average’ band.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/27/14/48/egglescliffe.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
15. Egglescliffe School
Egglesfield is a mixed academy in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees. It has special recognition for its performing arts programme. Egglescliffe has a Progress 8 score of 0.21, putting it in the ‘above average’ band. | Google
![Last but not least, Whitley Bay is a mixed foundation school in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear.
Whitley Bay High School has a rather high Progress 8 score of 0.50. The banding is not applied because this school starts educating pupils partway through the 5-year period covered by Progress 8.](https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/jpim-static/2024/06/27/14/58/whitleybay.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
16. Whitley Bay High School
Last but not least, Whitley Bay is a mixed foundation school in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Whitley Bay High School has a rather high Progress 8 score of 0.50. The banding is not applied because this school starts educating pupils partway through the 5-year period covered by Progress 8. | Google