Walker Riverside Academy
Waverdale Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4AWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Walker Riverside Academy is a secondary school in Newcastle upon Tyne for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 108 schools in Newcastle upon Tyne. It ranks 13th of 16 secondary schools in Newcastle upon Tyne. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 September 2024, report published 10 November 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Requires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 September 2024
Pupils are proud to attend their school. Being a member of Dobson, Grainger or Stephenson (the three 'schools within a school') fosters pupils' palpable sense of belonging. They feel safe and are well cared for. Pupils trust staff and turn to them for guidance and support. Walker Riverside is a calm, purposeful place to learn. In lessons, the majority of pupils behave well. They are keen to learn and like that their good behaviour is recognised through the merit, 'shout out' and positive behaviour systems. Some pupils need extra help to meet the school's high expectations for their behaviour. Skilled staff provide this help, including through the 'positive support programme'. Occasionally, some pupils' behaviour falls below the standard expected. Teachers manage this in line with the 'firm but fair' approach. Pupils' achievement in national assessments in 2023 was not strong. As a result of leaders' well-judged actions, the quality of education that pupils receive is improving but is not yet good. Pupils develop a mature awareness of, and respect for, diversity and equality. They also become increasingly resilient as they benefit from opportunities to grapple with more challenging academic school work.
What the school should improve
- The school's work to amend the curriculum is ongoing in a few subjects. Where this is the case, the improvement in pupils' achievement is not as evident as in more developed curriculum areas. The school should continue its work to develop the curriculum in these areas.
- As systems develop, the implementation of the curriculum in some subjects is inconsistent. This means that some pupils do not develop such a firm grasp of important knowledge. The school should continue to support teachers to deliver the curriculum equally well in all subjects so that pupils' achievement continues to improve.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
219 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
1,101 pupils on roll, with places for 1,301
Schools near Walker Riverside Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benfield School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 33.5 |
| Burnside College | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 44.2 |
| Hebburn Comprehensive School | 2 miles | Report card: Needs attention to strong standard | Attainment 8: 44.2 |
| St Joseph's Catholic Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.5 |
| Jesmond Park Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.4 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- TYNE COAST ACADEMY TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Michael Collier
- Phone
- 01912958660
- Address
- Waverdale Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 4AW
- Local authority
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- URN
- 145528
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.