Classpot

NCEA Duke's Secondary School

Northumberland, NE63 9FZSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Requires Improvement
Jun 2023
Progress 8
-1.05
Well below average
−20+2
Competition
1.1×
Oversubscribed
203 1st-choice / 187 places
Ranking
#3,040
of 3,141 nationally

About NCEA Duke's Secondary School

NCEA Duke's Secondary School's headline Progress 8 score of -1.05 sits well below the Northumberland local authority average of -0.22 for secondary schools, a gap that places it 15th out of 16 schools in the area. This is a significant difference — roughly 0.83 of a grade per subject behind the typical LA school — and the school's Progress 8 banding is officially classified as 'well below average'. Nationally, it ranks 3,040th out of 3,141 schools, putting it in the bottom 5% of all state secondaries. The picture is consistent across individual subject areas: Progress 8 for English is -1.01, for maths -0.81, and for the EBacc subjects -1.22. The Attainment 8 score of 34 is also modest, and only 25.6% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths (the basics 5 measure). The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated overall effectiveness as 'Requires improvement', though this was an upgrade from its previous 'Inadequate' rating in 2020.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressAcademy Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9FZ
HeadteacherRuston Atkinson
Local AuthorityNorthumberland
Number of Pupils1,045
Free School Meals (FSM)49.6%
School Capacity1,045 / 1,150 (91% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 44 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

6 Jun 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 24 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Sports HallICT SuiteSixth Form CentreGymnasiumLibraryMusic RoomsArt StudiosDining HallTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsTheatreChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BadmintonRowingAthleticsSwimmingTennisNetballBasketballRounders

Clubs & Activities

GardeningDramaBook ClubOrchestraDuke of EdinburghCodingYoung EnterpriseModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About NCEA Duke's Secondary School

NCEA Duke's Secondary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.