Freebrough Academy
82%
Capacity
821
Pupils
1.3x
Demand
About Freebrough Academy
Freebrough Academy stands out sharply against the local authority average for secondary schools in Redcar and Cleveland. While the LA average Progress 8 score sits at -0.23, meaning pupils typically leave school with results slightly below the national average, Freebrough posts a positive 0.28. That gap of over half a grade per subject is significant, and it places the school second out of nine state secondaries in the borough. Its attainment 8 score of 47.3 also suggests pupils are leaving with solid GCSE profiles. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it Outstanding overall, with Outstanding marks for quality of education, personal development, and leadership and management, and a Good rating for behaviour and attitudes. This is a remarkable turnaround from its previous inspection in 2018, when it was judged Inadequate. The school is clearly heading in the right direction.
Academically, Freebrough’s results are strong across the board. Its Progress 8 score of 0.28 is classed as Above average nationally, and the school ranks in the top 50 in the country on this measure. The maths and EBacc elements of Progress 8 both come in at 0.44, while English sits at 0.42, showing consistent strength across core subjects. At GCSE, 78% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 54.6% achieved a grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.39, and just over half of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. With 40.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, these results are particularly impressive and suggest the school is adding real value for its intake.
The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 145 first-preference applications for 151 places, and an overall application ratio of 1.25. It offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, astro turf, and music rooms, plus clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, eco club, orchestra, and choir. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. Freebrough is a non-denominational, mixed secondary for ages 11 to 16 with no sixth form. It will suit families looking for a school that has demonstrably improved its outcomes and now delivers above-average academic progress in a well-equipped setting.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Linden Road, Saltburn-By-the-Sea, Redcar and Cleveland, TS12 2SJ |
| Headteacher | Michael Garthwaite |
| Local Authority | Redcar and Cleveland |
| Number of Pupils | 821 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.7% |
| School Capacity | 821 / 1,000 (82% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
10 Jan 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Source: Ofsted, 15 Feb 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.28)
893rd of 3,141
Nationally
22nd of 142
In North East
2nd of 9
In Redcar and Cleveland
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2363%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 142 pupils).
- FE college63%
- Sixth form college19%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained6%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed151
188
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
145 families put this school as their 1st choice (77% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British95.2%
- Mixed2.0%
- White (other)1.1%
- Asian0.2%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Freebrough Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Linden Road, Saltburn-By-the-Sea
Redcar and Cleveland, TS12 2SJ
Linden Road, Saltburn-By-the-Sea
Redcar and Cleveland, TS12 2SJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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