Whitley Bay High School
104%
Capacity
1,762
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About Whitley Bay High School
Whitley Bay High School is a large state secondary for pupils aged 13 to 18, and it is noticeably oversubscribed: the school currently has 1,762 pupils against a capacity of 1,700, suggesting genuine demand from local families. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 9.3%, which is below the national average and indicates a relatively affluent intake compared with many schools in the North East. The school is non-denominational and mixed, and its headteacher is S Wilson. It is one of only a handful of Outstanding-rated schools in North Tyneside, and the only one at secondary level according to the most recent local data. The school’s popularity is reflected in its local ranking: it sits third out of eleven secondary schools in the local authority, behind Kings Priory and Marden High, and in the top 20% of schools regionally.
Academically, Whitley Bay High School performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.31 means pupils achieve nearly a third of a grade more per subject than pupils with similar starting points nationally, and this comfortably exceeds the North Tyneside average of -0.06. The Attainment 8 score is 56.3, and 84.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.13, placing it in the ‘above average’ banding, and the average points per entry is 35.94, equivalent to a B- grade. The school also performs well on the EBacc measure, with 28.3% of pupils achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, the school received Outstanding grades across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, science labs, and a dedicated sixth-form centre, alongside extensive sports such as rowing, rugby, and netball. Clubs include Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and coding. For pupils with additional needs, the school provides support for a broad spectrum of conditions, including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, and speech and language difficulties, and it operates a resourced provision. The school does not offer nursery provision and is not a boarding school. Given its strong academic outcomes, oversubscribed status, and Outstanding rating, Whitley Bay High School is a particularly strong fit for families in North Tyneside who prioritise high attainment and a broad extracurricular offer, especially those with children entering at age 13 or looking for a well-regarded sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 13 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Deneholm, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, NE25 9AS |
| Headteacher | S Wilson |
| Local Authority | North Tyneside |
| Number of Pupils | 1,762 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 9.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,762 / 1,700 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
4 Jun 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Jun 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.31)
819th of 3,141
Nationally
19th of 142
In North East
3rd of 11
In North Tyneside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
38.7
'22/23
35.8
'23/24
35.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2365%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 368 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)65%
- FE college23%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Employment4%
- Not sustained3%
97% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2363%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 270 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
35%
Russell Group
38%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)63%
- Employment20%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Further education4%
- Not sustained4%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics75
- Psychology73
- History60
- Biology53
- Media/Film/Tv Studies52
- Business Studies:Single50
- Geography44
- English Literature36
- English Language33
- Physics33
- Chemistry29
- Economics28
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: 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.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British88.8%
- Asian4.2%
- Mixed3.8%
- White (other)1.6%
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.
Half 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
10
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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 Whitley Bay High School
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
Contact Information
Deneholm, Whitley Bay
North Tyneside, NE25 9AS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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