SchoolScoresOutwood Academy Acklam
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of OUTWOOD GRANGE ACADEMIES TRUST
Hall Drive, Acklam, Middlesbrough, TS5 7JY
01642 818200 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 11 March 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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Middlesbrough comparisons use the 4 of its 11 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Middlesbrough | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 15% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 66% | 67% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 19% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 66% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 18% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 49% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 20 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 8% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 30% | 28% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 17% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 45% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Middlesbrough. Higher than 14% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 55%said yes | 55% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 4%). 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. Middlesbrough figures pool parents at the Middlesbrough 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.
47% — 10 points above the Middlesbrough average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Middlesbrough | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47% | 37% | 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. | 42.9 | 41.1 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.8 | 3.5 | 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.
257 pupils in this year group.
86% — about the same as the Middlesbrough average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Middlesbrough | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 86% | 86% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 4% | 16% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 11% | 9% | 13% |
| Further education college | 68% | 53% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| Work | Not published | 3% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 86% |
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 Middlesbrough. 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 | 230 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 136 |
| Of those, offered a place | 136 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 570 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.6 · 2025: 0.6 · 2026: 0.6
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 20 places for autism; Moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Middlesbrough | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 92% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 52.9% | 50.2%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.0% | 3.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 19.2% | 17.2%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 32.1% | 16.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 5th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Lower than 29% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 10.3%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Lower than 25% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 28.4% | 29.6%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 9th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 109.2 | 58.4 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Lower than 12% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 14.3% | 11.4% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded10 pupils | 0.84% | 0.75% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 65% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 17.5 | 15.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 1st highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 49% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.8 | 10.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 11 state secondary schools in Middlesbrough. Higher than 62% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 15.6% | 12.2%* | 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
- Trinity Catholic College 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 40% grade 5+ English and maths
- Acklam Grange School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 49% grade 5+ English and maths
- The King's Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Macmillan Academy 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 44% grade 5+ English and maths
- Thornaby Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 4 expected · 48% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Patrick's Catholic College, A Voluntary Catholic Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 5 expected · 31% grade 5+ English and maths
- Lift Unity City 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 2 needs attention · 21% grade 5+ English and maths
- Outwood Academy Riverside 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 28% grade 5+ English and maths
- Reintegreat Education Solutions Ltd 2.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Tees Valley College 2.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Outwood Academy Acklam's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 11 March 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did Outwood Academy Acklam do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 47% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Outwood Academy Acklam?
55% of the 44 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Outwood Academy Acklam to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Outwood Academy Acklam oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 136 families put Outwood Academy Acklam as their first choice for 230 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 136 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 139823.
- 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.