Classpot

The Academy at Shotton Hall

County Durham, SR8 1AUSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Jul 2024
Progress 8
+0.58
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
258 1st-choice / 265 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#403 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPassfield Way, Peterlee, County Durham, SR8 1AU
HeadteacherAlexandra Hook
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils1,164
Free School Meals (FSM)31.9%
School Capacity1,164 / 1,150 (101% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

9 Jul 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 9 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Dining HallLibraryArt StudiosMusic RoomsGymnasiumAstro TurfPlaying FieldsSixth Form CentreScience LabsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

FootballBadmintonGymnasticsSwimmingRowingDanceRugbyAthleticsRoundersCricket

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseOrchestraNewspaperChoirBook ClubChessDebate

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Academy at Shotton Hall

The Academy at Shotton Hall has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.