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Academy sponsor led · Middlesbrough

Lift Unity City

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,033Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 133768URN

Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 8RE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Apr 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.5per place
0.6 below Middlesbrough median (2.1)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Middlesbrough

291 applications for 196 places · 7th of 8 in Middlesbrough
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
36.9of 90
7th of 8 in Middlesbrough
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 21 April 2026Published 15 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementNeeds attention
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionDoes not apply to this school
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 21 April 2026
    Report card · 4 Expected standard, 2 Needs attention
  2. 10 May 2022
    Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
1.5applications per place, Year 7
0.6 below Middlesbrough median (2.1) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

291 applications · 196 places offered · 175 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

  1. 2026 1.5; Middlesbrough median median 2.1
  2. 2025 1.8; Middlesbrough median median 1.9
  3. 2024 1.3; Middlesbrough median median 1.9
  4. 2023 1.4; Middlesbrough median median 2.4
  5. 2022 1.4; Middlesbrough median median 1.9
  6. 2021 1.1; Middlesbrough median median 1.8
  7. 2020 1.2; Middlesbrough median median 2.4
  8. 2019 1.0; Middlesbrough median median 2.2
  9. 2018 1.0; Middlesbrough median median 1.9
  10. 2017 0.9; Middlesbrough median median 1.7
  11. 2016 1.2; Middlesbrough median median 1.8
  12. 2015 1.2; Middlesbrough median median 1.8
  13. 2014 1.6; Middlesbrough median median 2.0
More applications per place than the Middlesbrough median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Middlesbrough median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261962911.51750.89
Sep 20252033631.82191.08
Sep 20242493191.32030.82
Sep 20232453391.42070.84
Sep 20222042791.41740.85
Sep 20212022251.11460.72
Sep 20202022321.21600.79
Sep 20192081971.01210.58
Sep 20181881801.01070.57
Sep 20171681570.9900.54
Sep 20161842241.21280.70
Sep 20151631901.21040.64
Sep 20141141791.6920.81

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

162 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)36.97th of 8 in Middlesbrough
Grade 5 or above in English and maths22%8th of 8 in Middlesbrough
Grade 4 or above in English and maths46%
  • This school
  • Middlesbrough median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.87
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)16236.922%46%–
2024/2515534.221%41%–
2023/2417231.818%38%−0.87
2022/2314935.713%43%−0.57

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
133768 · 806/6905
Trust
Lift Schools
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,050 pupils · 1,033 on roll
Free school meals
72.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
SEN provision
Resourced provision
Opened
1 September 2002
Address
Ormesby Road, Middlesbrough, TS3 8RE
Local authority
Middlesbrough

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources