High Tunstall College of Science
100%
Capacity
1,396
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About High Tunstall College of Science
High Tunstall College of Science is a large secondary school in Hartlepool, operating at near-full capacity with 1,396 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,394. The school serves a community with above-average levels of disadvantage: 28.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, compared with the national average of around 23%. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 755 applications for 269 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.81 to one. Of those, 368 were first-preference applications, and 268 first-preference offers were made, suggesting that while the school is popular locally, not every family who wants a place gets one. The school is a mixed, non-denominational state secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form. Mark Tilling is the headteacher.
Academically, the school's most recent Progress 8 score was -0.32, which is below the national average and places it in the 'below average' banding nationally. However, in the context of Hartlepool, where the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.51, High Tunstall performs relatively well — it ranks second out of five schools in the LA on this measure. Attainment 8 stood at 44.4, and 61.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 36.5% for grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate was 19.9%, with 9.6% achieving the qualification at grade 4 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2025, the school was rated Requires Improvement overall, though inspectors judged behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, as Good. Leadership and management, and the quality of education, were both rated as Requires Improvement.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including science labs, a theatre, art studios, and a sixth form centre, despite not having a sixth form itself. Sports provision is extensive, with options from rugby and cricket to martial arts and gymnastics, and clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and a gardening club. The school has a resourced provision and supports pupils with a broad spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. Parent views are largely positive: 90% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (88% strongly agree or agree) and that the school offers a good range of subjects (98%). This is a school that suits families in Hartlepool looking for a large, inclusive secondary with strong pastoral care and a good range of extracurriculars, but where academic outcomes are still a work in progress.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Elwick Road, Hartlepool, Hartlepool, TS26 0LQ |
| Headteacher | Mark Tilling |
| Local Authority | Hartlepool |
| Number of Pupils | 1,396 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,396 / 1,394 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Source: Ofsted, 25 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.32)
2290th of 3,141
Nationally
86th of 142
In North East
2nd of 5
In Hartlepool
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 226 pupils).
- FE college88%
- Not sustained4%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
96% 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.
Ofsted Parent View
143 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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed269
755
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
368 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:25 – 15:00
Breakfast club
08:00-08:25
Source: htcs.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British90.5%
- Asian5.2%
- Mixed1.5%
- White (other)1.1%
- Black0.1%
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.
Half 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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
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 High Tunstall College of Science
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
Elwick Road, Hartlepool
Hartlepool, TS26 0LQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at High Tunstall College of Science!
Write a Review