Newcastle Academy
Gallowstree Lane, The Westlands, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 2QSOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Newcastle Academy is a secondary school in Newcastle-under-Lyme for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 451 schools in Staffordshire. It ranks 40th of 56 secondary schools in Staffordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 7 November 2023, report published 13 December 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 7 November 2023
Newcastle Academy staff and pupils have a very strong sense of community. Pupils understand and demonstrate the school's values of honour, positivity and excellence. Staff have high expectations for all pupils. The majority of pupils behave well in lessons and around the school site. Pupils understand and welcome the positive rewards they receive. Pupils who spoke to inspectors talked openly about their positive relationships with staff. Pupils know they can report any behaviour issues, which staff deal with rapidly. Bullying is rare. When it occurs, staff take appropriate action to deal with it. Pupils know that inappropriate language is not acceptable and report it swiftly. The curriculum is broad and balanced. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), study the full curriculum. Leaders have made effective changes to ensure that pupils in Years 7 to 9 access a full range of subjects. This prepares pupils well for further qualifications, including GCSE and vocational subjects. A wide range of extra-curricular opportunities are available to all pupils including robotics, dance and weight-lifting. Some pupils participate in these activities. Pupils are proud to serve the school and wider community through leadership positions within all year groups.
What the school should improve
- Too many pupils are absent each day. This means pupils miss too much learning, which limits their progress. The school should further its work with parents and external agencies to secure more regular attendance for all pupils.
- The school has not fully developed effective systems to support all pupils who struggle with reading. Pupils who need support, including those with SEND and who are disadvantaged, are not making sufficient progress with their phonics, grammar and comprehension. The school should further embed the current reading strategy, rapidly, to support effectively all pupils who are not confident readers.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
81 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
441 pupils on roll, with places for 647
Schools near Newcastle Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John Fisher Catholic College | 1 mile | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 41.8 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 40.5 |
| Demetae Academy | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Clayton Hall Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.8 |
| Thistley Hough Academy | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 47.9 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- WINDSOR ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Noel Kennedy
- Phone
- 01782667650
- Address
- Gallowstree Lane, The Westlands, Newcastle under Lyme, ST5 2QS
- Local authority
- Staffordshire
- URN
- 142277
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.