The Academy at Shotton Hall

About The Academy at Shotton Hall

The Academy at Shotton Hall stands out sharply against the County Durham average for secondary schools. Its Progress 8 score of 0.58 is well above the local authority average of -0.21, meaning pupils here make significantly more academic progress than their peers across the county. This places the school third out of 31 secondary schools in County Durham, putting it in the top ten per cent locally and the top 13 per cent nationally. It is one of only five schools in the authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a grade it has held across both its most recent inspections. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 495 applications for 265 places, with 258 first-preference offers made. That oversubscription ratio of 1.87 tells you local families are voting with their feet.

Academically, the school delivers strong results across the board. Its Attainment 8 score of 51.7 is well above the national average, and 76 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The English Progress 8 score of 0.61 is particularly strong, while maths progress is more modest at 0.1. The school also performs well on the EBacc measure: 53.4 per cent of pupils entered the full EBacc suite, and 34.4 per cent achieved a grade 4 or above across those subjects. The EBacc average point score of 4.58 reflects solid performance in these core academic subjects. Ofsted’s 2024 inspection awarded top grades across the board — Outstanding for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — confirming that the school’s strong outcomes are backed by consistent quality across all areas.

The school caters for a diverse intake, with 31.9 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, above the national average. It offers a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. Facilities include science labs, art studios, music rooms, a gymnasium, astro turf, and playing fields. Sports on offer range from football and rugby to rowing and gymnastics, and there are clubs for orchestra, choir, debate, chess, and a school newspaper. There is no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16. The school is a good fit for families who want a high-performing, oversubscribed state secondary with strong academic progress and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value a school that outperforms its local authority by a wide margin.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About The Academy at Shotton Hall

Helpful Guides for Parents