Graded inspection · Oct 2021 Previous framework
- Quality of education
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Personal development
- Leadership and management
This schoolOther secondary schools in Northumberland
What did Ofsted find?
Ofsted data to 30 September 2026| Area | Outstanding | Good | Requires improvement | Inadequate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement | |||
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement | |||
| Personal development | Requires improvement | |||
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement | |||
| Sixth form provision | Requires improvement |
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 entry198 applications · 188 places offered · 189 named it first
- 2026 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.3
- 2025 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.4
- 2024 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.4
- 2023 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2022 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.3; as the previous school
- 2021 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2020 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.4; as the previous school
- 2019 1.0; Northumberland median median 1.3; as the previous school
- 2017 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.2; as the previous school
- 2016 1.1; Northumberland median median 1.1; as the previous school
- 2015 1.2; Northumberland median median 1.1; as the previous school
- 2014 1.2; Northumberland median median 1.1; as the previous school
- This school
- Northumberland median
Dashed bars: as The Duchess's Community High School (URN 122362), the previous school.
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.
| Entry | Places | Applications | Per place | First preferences | First-pref. ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 188 | 198 | 1.1 | 189 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2025 | 167 | 171 | 1.0 | 170 | 1.02 |
| Sep 2024 | 218 | 218 | 1.0 | 209 | 0.96 |
| Sep 2023 * | 214 | 215 | 1.0 | 215 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2022 * | 237 | 238 | 1.0 | 237 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2021 * | 212 | 219 | 1.0 | 214 | 1.01 |
| Sep 2020 * | 233 | 236 | 1.0 | 231 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2019 * | 253 | 258 | 1.0 | 253 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2017 * | 230 | 245 | 1.1 | 228 | 0.99 |
| Sep 2016 * | 207 | 232 | 1.1 | 207 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2015 * | 217 | 258 | 1.2 | 217 | 1.00 |
| Sep 2014 * | 217 | 263 | 1.2 | 216 | 1.00 |
How did pupils do at GCSE?
DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisionalEvery year as a table
| Year | Pupils | Attainment 8 | 5+ Eng & maths | 4+ Eng & maths | Progress 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 (prov.) | 192 | 41.3 | 35% | 55% | – |
| 2024/25 | 253 | 43.2 | 38% | 63% | – |
| 2023/24 * | 259 | 42.7 | 34% | 59% | −0.26 |
| 2022/23 * | 234 | 42.2 | 38% | 59% | −0.26 |
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
- The Duchess's Community High SchoolThis schoolThis schoolRequires improvement20211.1applications per place 41.3Attainment 8
- 10.2 km · NorthumberlandGood20221.2applications per place 32.7Attainment 8
- 16.6 km · NorthumberlandRemains Good2022
- 24.9 km · NorthumberlandGraded · no overall grade202451.1Attainment 8
- 25.2 km · Northumberland2026
- 25.3 km · Northumberland2026
- 25.6 km · NorthumberlandGood20221.3applications per place 48.3Attainment 8
- 26.5 km · Northumberland20261.3applications per place 36.3Attainment 8
- 30.1 km · NorthumberlandGood20231.5applications per place 43.6Attainment 8
- 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 converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- URN · DfE number
- 150196 · 929/4438
- Trust
- Pele Trust
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Capacity
- 1,651 pupils · 1,276 on roll
- Free school meals
- 18.4% of pupils (England median 23%)
- Opened
- 1 December 2023
- Replaced
- The Duchess's Community High School (URN 122362)
- Address
- Taylor Drive, Alnwick, NE66 2DH
- Local authority
- Northumberland
Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources