Outwood Academy Acklam
About Outwood Academy Acklam
Outwood Academy Acklam is a large secondary school in Middlesbrough, currently home to 1,185 pupils against a capacity of 1,350, so there is some headroom in the buildings. The school serves a community with significant economic disadvantage: 52.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average and a clear signal of the intake profile. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 688 applications for 227 places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 3.03 applicants per place. Of those, 145 families put it as their first preference, and all first-preference applicants were offered a place. That suggests the school is a popular choice locally, particularly among families who prioritise it, but not so oversubscribed that it’s out of reach for those who list it second or third. The school is non-denominational, mixed, and caters for pupils aged 11 to 16 with no sixth form on site.
Key Details
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 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
11 Mar 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 7 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: acklam.outwood.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Outwood Academy Acklam
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