Outwood Academy Ormesby
89%
Capacity
738
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About Outwood Academy Ormesby
Outwood Academy Ormesby’s headline Progress 8 score of -1.12 places it well below the Middlesbrough local authority average of -0.45, making it the lowest-performing secondary in the borough out of ten schools of its type. This is a stark gap: pupils here are leaving with nearly a full grade less per subject than the typical Middlesbrough student. The school ranks 7th in the LA, and nationally it sits in the bottom 3% of all schools. The picture is consistent across subjects — Progress 8 for English is -0.69, for maths -0.94, and for the EBacc subjects -1.33. The Attainment 8 score of 31.3 is also notably low. Only 27.3% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, compared with 42.9% at grade 4 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 18.6%, and just 7.4% of pupils entered the full EBacc and achieved a grade 5 or above. These are difficult numbers, and they reflect a school that has been struggling academically for some time.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2022, rated it Inadequate overall, a significant downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2017. Behaviour and attitudes were also judged Inadequate, while the quality of education and personal development were both rated Requires improvement. Leadership and management received the same Requires improvement grade. The school has no sixth form, so all pupils leave at 16. On the plus side, the school is well equipped with facilities including a theatre, music rooms, science labs, a gymnasium, tennis courts, and a chapel. It offers a broad range of extracurricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, coding club, and a gardening club. Sports provision is solid, with football, basketball, netball, swimming, and athletics available. The school also lists a wide array of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities.
Admissions data for 2025/26 shows the school is oversubscribed: 219 applications for 129 places, with 92 first-preference offers made. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 1.7, meaning nearly two children apply for every place. With 63.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a significantly disadvantaged community. For parents considering this school, the academic outcomes and Ofsted rating are serious concerns, but the oversubscription suggests it remains a popular local choice, possibly due to its facilities, SEND support, or its place within the Outwood Grange Academies Trust. It may suit families who prioritise a broad range of clubs and sports over headline exam results, or those whose children need the specific SEND provisions listed. However, any parent would want to visit, speak to the current headteacher James Bridge, and understand what improvement plans are in place.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Tothill Avenue, Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, TS3 0RH |
| Headteacher | James Bridge |
| Local Authority | Middlesbrough |
| Number of Pupils | 738 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 63.3% |
| School Capacity | 738 / 825 (89% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
6 Jul 2022Overall Effectiveness
Inadequate
Source: Ofsted, 9 Oct 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-1.12)
3060th of 3,141
Nationally
134th of 142
In North East
7th of 7
In Middlesbrough
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
2022/2364%
of GCSE leavers continue at FE college (cohort: 144 pupils).
- FE college64%
- Not sustained19%
- Sixth form college8%
- Employment5%
- Apprenticeship1%
81% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed129
219
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
92 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:35 – 15:00
Source: ormesby.outwood.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.2%
- Mixed2.9%
- White (other)1.9%
- Asian0.4%
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.
75% 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.
12
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Outwood Academy Ormesby
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
Tothill Avenue, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough, TS3 0RH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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