Thorp Academy
99%
Capacity
1,496
Pupils
1.4x
Demand
About Thorp Academy
Thorp Academy is a large mixed secondary school and sixth form in Gateshead, serving 1,496 pupils aged 11 to 18. In the local authority, it ranks fourth out of seven schools of the same type when measured by Progress 8, placing it just behind the top three peers: Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Whickham School, and St Thomas More Catholic School. The school sits within a local authority where only one school holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, and Thorp Academy itself was rated Good in its most recent graded inspection in 2019, a judgement that was confirmed as unchanged in an ungraded inspection in June 2024. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2016, when the school was rated Requires Improvement. The headteacher, Joanna Macaulay, leads a school that is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, there were 365 applications for 263 places, with 235 first-preference offers made.
Academically, Thorp Academy’s Progress 8 score for the 2023/24 academic year was -0.12, which is slightly above the Gateshead local authority average of -0.14 and places the school in the national ‘Average’ banding. Its Attainment 8 score was 47, and 53.5% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs, while 74% achieved a grade 4 or above. The EBacc average point score was 4.41, with 52.1% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. In the sixth form, the school’s value-added score was -0.89, which is rated as ‘Well below average’, and the average points per entry was 31.56, equating to a grade C. The best three A-levels averaged a grade C as well. The school’s Ofsted breakdown from 2019 rated both leadership and management and sixth-form provision as Good, with the sixth form specifically noted as Good in the 2024 ungraded inspection.
Thorp Academy offers a broad range of facilities including a library, theatre, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, a sixth form centre, and a chapel. Sports on offer include athletics, basketball, cricket, netball, hockey, and dance, while extracurricular clubs range from Film Club and Science Club to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, debate, orchestra, and eco club. The school has a comprehensive set of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, physical disabilities, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 24.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Given its oversubscribed status and improved Ofsted rating, Thorp Academy is a solid choice for families in Gateshead seeking a large, inclusive secondary with a strong sixth form and a wide range of enrichment opportunities.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Main Road, Ryton, Gateshead, NE40 3AH |
| Headteacher | Joanna Macaulay |
| Local Authority | Gateshead |
| Number of Pupils | 1,496 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,496 / 1,511 (99% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (19 Jun 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 May 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.12)
1807th of 3,141
Nationally
58th of 142
In North East
4th of 7
In Gateshead
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.9
'22/23
31.9
'23/24
31.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2343%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 75 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
24%
Russell Group
26%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)43%
- Employment27%
- Apprenticeship13%
- Not sustained11%
- Further education5%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
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
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed263
365
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
235 families put this school as their 1st choice (64% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Below most schools — predominantly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.4%
- Mixed3.0%
- White (other)2.4%
- Asian0.9%
- Black0.3%
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.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thorp Academy
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
Main Road, Ryton
Gateshead, NE40 3AH
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
