SchoolScoresBoldon School
Community school · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
New Road, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9DZ
0191 536 2176 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 18 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
86 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
South Tyneside comparisons use the 5 of its 8 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 3 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.
| Statement | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 76% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 77% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 65% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 44 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 17% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 36% | 42% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 74 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 15% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 51% | 61% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 24 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 41% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 51% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in South Tyneside. Higher than 28% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69%said yes | 69% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). 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. South Tyneside figures pool parents at the South Tyneside 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
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
204 pupils in this year group.
24% — 15 points below the South Tyneside average, and 21 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 24% | 39% | 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. | 37.1 | 42.7 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.1 |
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.
172 pupils in this year group.
79% — 11 points below the South Tyneside average, and 13 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 79% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 10% | 27% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 0% | 0% | 13% |
| Further education college | 58% | 52% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 6% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 2% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 86% | 79% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 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 South Tyneside. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 213 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 164 |
| Of those, offered a place | 164 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 295 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.8
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 125 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Other difficulties or disabilities; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | South Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 53.1% | 36.7%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 40% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.5% | 2.2%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 93% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 22.4% | 18.8%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 16% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 3.9% | 6.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Lower than 7% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.4% | 10.0%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Lower than 11% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 33.7% | 27.8%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 40.2 | 23.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 8th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5% | 8.5% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded7 pupils | 0.66% | 0.65% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 11% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 14.5 | 15.4 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 9.1 | 10.8 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools in South Tyneside. Higher than 44% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 10.7%* | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Red House Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Wilfrid's RC College 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 50% grade 5+ English and maths
- Castle View Enterprise Academy 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 39% grade 5+ English and maths
- Jarrow School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 36% grade 5+ English and maths
- Mortimer Community College 2.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 35% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harton Academy 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Monkwearmouth Academy 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
- Hebburn Comprehensive School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 strong, 4 expected, 1 needs attention · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Boldon School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 18 February 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Boldon School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 24% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 21 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Boldon School?
69% of the 86 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Boldon School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Boldon School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 164 families put Boldon School as their first choice for 213 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 164 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 108730.
- 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, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.