SchoolScoresBellingham Middle School and Sports College
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 9 to 13 · Mixed
Redesmouth Road, Bellingham, Hexham, NE48 2EN
01434 220235 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 8 October 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 2 April 2025: Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Hexham comparisons use the 4 of its 5 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other one has 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.
| Statement | This school | Hexham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hexham. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 81% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hexham. Higher than 75% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 89% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hexham. Higher than 86% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 77% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 11 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hexham. Higher than 82% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82% | 68% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hexham. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62%said yes | 80% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 25%). 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. Hexham figures pool parents at the Hexham 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
11 pupils in this year group.
18% — 40 points below the Northumberland average, and 44 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 18% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 36% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 27% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 55% | 70% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. 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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 61% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 31.4% | 24.8%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 100% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 15.7% | 3.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 86% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.6% | 13.1%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 0% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 0.0% | 2.8%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Lower than 22% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 8.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Lower than 56% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4% | 22.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Lower than 39% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 19.6 | 29.2 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Lower than 57% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.9% | 8.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.38% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 0% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools in Hexham. Higher than 0% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 4.3 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
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.
Questions parents ask
What is Bellingham Middle School and Sports College's Ofsted rating?
Bellingham Middle School and Sports College was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 October 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 2 April 2025, Ofsted found some aspects were not as strong as at the last graded inspection.
Would parents recommend Bellingham Middle School and Sports College?
62% of the 13 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Bellingham Middle School and Sports College to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 122350.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.