Kingsmeadow Community School
About Kingsmeadow Community School
Kingsmeadow Community School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Gateshead, one of seven schools in the local authority ranked by Progress 8. It sits sixth in that list, placing it behind the three top-performing peers in the area: Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Whickham School, and St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon. The school is led by headteacher Mark Barrett and has 911 pupils on roll, just shy of its 975 capacity. A notably high proportion of its students — 47 per cent — are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school has held a Good rating from Ofsted since its 2019 inspection, and its most recent graded inspection in September 2021 confirmed that rating across all five categories: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. The sixth form provision was also judged Good. Kingsmeadow is a popular choice locally; for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 300 applications for 173 places, with 122 first-preference offers made.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Sept 2021Source: Ofsted, 18 Oct 2021. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Kingsmeadow Community 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications