Classpot

Whitworth Park Academy

County Durham, DL16 7LNSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2022
Progress 8
-0.01
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
182 1st-choice / 195 places
Ranking
#1,535
of 3,141 nationally

About Whitworth Park Academy

Whitworth Park Academy is a popular choice among County Durham families, with 281 applications for 195 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.44. Of those, 182 families put the school as their first preference, and all first-preference applicants received an offer. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey. The school is a mixed, non-denominational secondary for ages 11 to 16, with no sixth form. It currently has 986 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,300, so there is some room for growth. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 38.7%, well above the national average, indicating the school serves a community with significant socioeconomic challenges.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterNone
AddressWhitworth Lane, Spennymoor, County Durham, DL16 7LN
HeadteacherStuart Dixon
Local AuthorityCounty Durham
Number of Pupils986
Free School Meals (FSM)38.7%
School Capacity986 / 1,300 (76% 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

5 Oct 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 15 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
LibraryGymnasiumMusic RoomsICT SuitePlaying FieldsScience LabsSixth Form CentreTheatreDining HallAstro TurfSports Hall

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

HockeyMartial ArtsRugbyBasketballRowingBadminton

Clubs & Activities

ChoirDebateArt ClubChessDramaEco ClubFilm Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere Learning

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:00

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Whitworth Park Academy

Whitworth Park Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.