North Shore Academy

About North Shore Academy

North Shore Academy, a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Stockton-on-Tees, posts a Progress 8 score of 0.07, which sits comfortably above the local authority average of -0.11 for secondary schools. That gap of nearly two-tenths of a grade per subject means pupils here, on average, make slightly more academic progress than their peers across Stockton-on-Tees. The school ranks 4th out of 13 secondaries in the borough, placing it in the top third locally, and 41st out of 142 schools in the North East region. This is a school that clearly outperforms the typical LA school in terms of pupil progress, and it does so while serving a significantly disadvantaged intake — 55.5 per cent of its 816 pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Headteacher Rob Byrne has overseen a remarkable turnaround since the school's previous Ofsted inspection, when it was rated Requires Improvement. In its most recent graded inspection, every single category — behaviour, personal development, leadership, and overall effectiveness — was judged Outstanding.

Academically, the school delivers solid, if not spectacular, results. The Attainment 8 score sits at 44.8, meaning the average pupil achieves just under a grade 5 across their best eight GCSE subjects. The basics measure — the proportion achieving a grade 4 or above in both English and maths — stands at 64.5 per cent, which is a respectable figure given the high level of disadvantage. The English department is a particular strength: the Progress 8 score for English is 0.21, well above the national average, while maths sits at 0.07 and the EBacc subjects at -0.01. Just over a quarter of pupils (27.4 per cent) achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above, and 43.5 per cent entered the EBacc suite of subjects. The school's Progress 8 banding is officially rated as Average, and its national ranking places it in the 44th percentile — solidly mid-table across England. There is no sixth form here, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11.

The school is clearly popular with local families: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 265 applications for 163 places, with 159 first-preference offers made. That oversubscription ratio of 1.63 tells you demand outstrips supply. Facilities are generous for a state school, including a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, sports hall, and music rooms. The range of clubs and sports is broad, with everything from martial arts to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and Young Enterprise. SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language needs. For families in Stockton-on-Tees looking for a high-performing, inclusive secondary that gets strong results from a disadvantaged cohort, North Shore Academy is a compelling option — especially if you value the Outstanding Ofsted rating and the clear upward trajectory since its previous inspection.

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