SchoolScoresValley Gardens Middle School
Foundation school · Secondary, ages 9 to 13 · Mixed
Part of The North Tyneside Learning Trust
Valley Gardens, Whitley Bay, NE25 9AQ
0191 917 6667 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 19 November 2024, 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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
293 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Whitley Bay 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 | Whitley Bay | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 77% | 88% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 61% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 100 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 20% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 38% | 47% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 217 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 27% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 75% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 64 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 38% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 70% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Whitley Bay. Higher than 39% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75%said yes | 85% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 38%). 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. Whitley Bay figures pool parents at the Whitley Bay 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
192 pupils in this year group.
72% — 9 points above the North Tyneside average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | North Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 63% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 15% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 78% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 85% | 75% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 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 North Tyneside. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | North Tyneside | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 4% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.0% | 25.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.2% | 3.3%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 32% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 11.4% | 14.0%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 2% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.3% | 5.7%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 7.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Lower than 99% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2% | 19.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 4th lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Lower than 78% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 6.2 | 25.0 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Lower than 93% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 1.4% | 7.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils | 0.26% | 0.71% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 97% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 21.1 | 16.6 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 88% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.9 | 11.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools in Whitley Bay. Higher than 30% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 10.2% | 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
- Whitley Bay High School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 63% grade 5+ English and maths
- Monkseaton Coastal School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021)
- Wellfield Middle School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024
- Marden Bridge Middle School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), improved significantly 2025
- Monkseaton High School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- Marden High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 60% grade 5+ English and maths
- John Spence Community High School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Thomas More Catholic High School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Kings Priory School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 74% grade 5+ English and maths
- Norham High School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 24% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Valley Gardens Middle School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 19 November 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend Valley Gardens Middle School?
75% of the 293 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Valley Gardens Middle School 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 108636.
- 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.