Classpot

Valley Gardens Middle School

North Tyneside, NE25 9AQSecondaryAges 9–13MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
6 Good
Dec 2024
Progress 8
No data
Competition
N/A
No data
Ranking
Not ranked

About Valley Gardens Middle School

Valley Gardens Middle School serves pupils aged 9 to 13 in North Tyneside, and its most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024 rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour, and leadership. This is a solid result, but the school’s real story lies in its context. The local authority average Progress 8 score for secondary schools sits at -0.06, which is slightly below the national average of zero. Valley Gardens does not have a published Progress 8 score in this data, so a direct comparison isn't possible, but the school’s Ofsted history is notable: its previous inspection in 2014 rated it Outstanding overall, meaning the current Good grade represents a step down. Still, with 773 pupils on a capacity of just 200, the school is significantly oversubscribed, suggesting strong local demand. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 57.1%, well above the national average, which adds further context to its performance.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range9 to 13 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressValley Gardens, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, NE25 9AQ
HeadteacherDavid Godfrey
Local AuthorityNorth Tyneside
Number of Pupils773
Free School Meals (FSM)57.1%
School Capacity773 / 200 (387% full)
Sixth FormYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

3 Dec 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 23 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Art StudiosMusic RoomsAstro TurfTheatreSixth Form CentreLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

CricketGymnasticsBadmintonCross CountryAthleticsHockeyMartial ArtsSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubFilm ClubDramaCodingChoirDuke of EdinburghYoung EnterpriseModel United NationsDebate

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:25

Source: vgms.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Valley Gardens Middle School

Valley Gardens Middle School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.