Ashington Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of NORTH EAST LEARNING TRUST

Green Lane, Ashington, NE63 8DH

01670 812166 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 23 March 2022
Grade 5 or above in English and maths49%England 45% · 2024/25
5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 63% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils964Room for 1,250 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 977 in 2019, 970 in 2021, 977 in 2022, 955 in 2023, 956 in 2024, 966 in 2025, 964 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.0204 for 203 places, September 2026
6th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 62% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 March 2022.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

133 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Northumberland comparisons use the 6 of its 27 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 21 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 90% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 80% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 85% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95% 81% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 94% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
94% 71% 78%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 97% of 344 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 49% 43%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 92 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 95% of 431 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 69% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 13 parents of children with SEND
4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 31% of 356 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
46% 60% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Northumberland.
Higher than 87% of 442 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
95%said yes 83% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Northumberland figures pool parents at the Northumberland schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

150 pupils in this year group.

49% — 8 points above the Northumberland average, and 4 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 49% 42% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 47.1 44 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.3 3.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 55%This school 2023/24: 55%This school 2024/25: 49% This school England 45% 2022/23 55% 2023/24 55% 2024/25 49%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

148 pupils in this year group.

93% — 2 points above the Northumberland average, and about the same as the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 23%58%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 93% 91% 92%
School sixth form 23% 43% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 0% 13%
Further education college 58% 36% 37%
Apprenticeship 9% 6% 3%
Work 3% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%93%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

34 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Average A level grade B- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 27% 24% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 48% 49% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 35.7 34.2 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
25 30 35 40 45 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 30.2This school 2023/24: 38.0This school 2024/25: 35.7 This school England 35 2022/23 30.2 2023/24 38.0 2024/25 35.7

A level subjects, 2024/25

18 subjects, 86 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Mathematics 13 15% 46% 40%
English Language 7 0% 29% 13%
Art and Design (Photography) 6 17% 67% 26%
Biology 6 33% 67% 27%
Chemistry 6 50% 50% 30%
English Literature 6 0% 17% 23%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Economics, Film Studies, Law, Design and Technology (Product Design), Geography, Physical Education / Sports Studies, Psychology, Art and Design (Fine Art), History, Mathematics (Further), Physics, Religious Studies.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

58 students in this year group.

98% — 11 points above the Northumberland average, and 19 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 98% 87% 79%
Apprenticeship 22% 11% 7%
Work 19% 25% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
92%98%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

37 students in this year group.

78% — 11 points above the Northumberland average, and 18 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 78% 67% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 35% 28% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
82%78%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Northumberland. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered203
Families who put it first204
Of those, offered a place203 (100%)
Families who listed it at all271

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Northumberland

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
3rd highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 69% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
35.5% 24.8%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
25th highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 23% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.9% 3.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
8th highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 76% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
17.5% 13.1%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
9th highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 11% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.9% 2.8%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
13th lowest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Lower than 57% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 8.7%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
13th lowest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Lower than 61% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
21.2% 22.6%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
15th lowest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
19.7 29.2 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
17th lowest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Lower than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.0% 8.4% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded9 pupils 0.93% 0.38% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 18th highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 26% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.6 16.5 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
12th highest of 27 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 45% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.6 11.5 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
8th highest of 26 state secondary schools in Northumberland.
Higher than 73% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
17.9% 11.8%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Ashington Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ashington Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 March 2022.

How did Ashington Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 49% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 4 points above the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Ashington Academy?

95% of the 133 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Ashington Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Ashington Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 204 families put Ashington Academy as their first choice for 203 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 203 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.