George Stephenson High School
95%
Capacity
1,160
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About George Stephenson High School
Ofsted's Parent View survey, based on responses from 86 families between September 2024 and September 2025, shows that 63% of parents would recommend George Stephenson High School. That's a solid majority, though it leaves more than a third who wouldn't, which is worth weighing up. The school is clearly popular locally: for 2025/26 admissions, it received 348 applications for 224 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.55, with 181 of those 197 first-preference families getting a spot. On specific questions, the picture is mixed. Strong majorities agree their child is happy (72% agree or strongly agree) and feels safe (70%), and 91% say there's a good range of subjects. But only 53% agree bullying is dealt with quickly, and 46% disagree that SEND children get the support they need. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in March 2025, found standards maintained, building on its Good rating from the graded inspection in November 2019.
Academically, George Stephenson sits below the North Tyneside average. Its Progress 8 score for 2023/24 was -0.34, compared with the local authority average of -0.06, placing it 6th out of 11 secondary schools in the borough. That score is classed as 'Below average' nationally, ranking 2,324th out of 3,141 schools. The Attainment 8 score was 42.8, and 52.9% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate was 25.7%, with 16% achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the picture is similar: a value-added score of -0.27 is also 'Below average', with an average point score per entry of 33.12, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged 34.77 points, again a C+. Only 15.9% of entries achieved AAB or higher.
The school is a large, mixed 11-18 comprehensive with 1,160 pupils on roll, close to its capacity of 1,227. Facilities are strong for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There's a wide range of clubs, from Eco Club and Young Enterprise to orchestra and chess, plus sports like martial arts, rugby, and gymnastics. The school has a resourced provision and lists SEND support for conditions including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language needs, though the Parent View data suggests some parents feel this support falls short. With 27.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a relatively disadvantaged intake. This school will suit families who value its broad curriculum and facilities, but those prioritising strong academic progress or SEND support may want to look more closely at the data.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Southgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, NE12 6SA |
| Headteacher | Peter Douthwaite |
| Local Authority | North Tyneside |
| Number of Pupils | 1,160 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,160 / 1,227 (95% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Mar 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Mar 2025): Standards maintained
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Dec 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.34)
2324th of 3,141
Nationally
87th of 142
In North East
6th of 11
In North Tyneside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
40.6
'22/23
30.3
'23/24
33.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 215 pupils).
- FE college50%
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Employment6%
- Not sustained4%
95% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2350%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 50 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
31%
Russell Group
32%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)50%
- Apprenticeship22%
- Employment20%
- Further education4%
- Not sustained2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- History17
- English Literature14
- Sociology14
- English Language9
- Media/Film/Tv Studies8
- Mathematics7
- Psychology7
- Chemistry6
- Government and Politics6
- Art and Design (Fine Art)5
- Biology5
- Physics4
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
86 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed224
348
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
197 families put this school as their 1st choice (57% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.6%
- Asian3.7%
- Mixed2.6%
- White (other)1.3%
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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About George Stephenson High School
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
Southgate, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
North Tyneside, NE12 6SA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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