SchoolScoresWoodham Academy
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of EDEN LEARNING TRUST
Washington Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, DL5 4AX
01325 300328 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 9 May 2018.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 April 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
171 pupils in this year group.
46% — 5 points above the County Durham average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 46% | 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. | 48.2 | 44.1 | 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 |
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% — 4 points above the County Durham average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 93% | 89% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 20% | 30% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 22% | 4% | 13% |
| Further education college | 44% | 46% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 92% | 93% |
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 County Durham. 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 offered | 225 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 240 |
| Of those, offered a place | 225 (94%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 347 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.1
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 10 places for physical disability. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | County Durham | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 37.8% | 32.3%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 21% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 1.8% | 2.4%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 16.6% | 13.6%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 17% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.1% | 4.1%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Lower than 54% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.1% | 8.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Lower than 54% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 22.8% | 25.0%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Lower than 53% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.5 | 18.6 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 2nd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Lower than 60% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 5.6% | 7.0% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded4 pupils | 0.39% | 0.46% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.0 | 16.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3 | 12.7 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Newton Aycliffe. Higher than 2% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 3.6% | 10.4%* | 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
- Greenfield Academy 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2019, before conversion) · 30% grade 5+ English and maths
- UTC South Durham 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 29% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Woodham Academy's Ofsted rating?
Woodham Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 May 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 April 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Woodham Academy do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 46% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, about the same as the England average of 45%.
Is Woodham Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 240 families put Woodham Academy as their first choice for 225 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 225 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 138717.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- 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.