Ashington Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 964 pupils
81% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.1
Academy converter
Ponteland High School
- Pupils on roll
- 1,536of 1,600 places
- Free school meals
- 11.8%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 245
- Ofsted
- Good, 23 May 2023Read the Ofsted report
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Ponteland High School (URN 122358, until 1 May 2018).
What the data says
Of the 255 pupils who finished Year 11 at Ponteland High School in 2023, 49% stayed on in Ponteland High School’s own sixth form (Northumberland average 43%), 35% went to a further education college and 7% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 145 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 63% went to university (Northumberland 48%, England 37%), and 37% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally.
Media Studies is unusually popular at GCSE: 36% of the year group took it, against 4% of pupils across England.
GCSE results in 2025 were above the national picture: Attainment 8 of 53.0 against 46.1 across England and 44.0 in Northumberland, with 56% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Northumberland and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Ponteland High School | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 255 | 3,151 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 95% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 85% | 81% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 49% | 43% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | 0% | 13% |
| — further education college | 35% | 36% | 37% |
| — other education | 2% | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 7% | 6% | 3% |
| Employment | 3% | 4% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 4% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 1% | 3% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | Ponteland High School | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 145 | 1,385 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 92% | 87% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 63% | 48% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 37% | 28% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 3% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 10% | 11% | 7% |
| Employment | 19% | 25% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 10% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | Ponteland High School | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 53.0 | 44.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 56% | 42% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 77% | 63% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 54% | 32% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 4.81 | 3.82 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 15% | 27% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 42.3 | 30.9 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 54.9 | 48.9 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 5% | 3% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | 245 | 100% | 89% | 25% | 20% | 78% |
| Mathematics | 245 | 100% | 88% | 24% | 22% | 81% |
| Religious Studies | 238 | 97% | 31% | 26% | 32% | 69% |
| English Literature | 238 | 97% | 86% | 23% | 21% | 84% |
| French | 199 | 81% | 18% | 23% | 29% | 83% |
| Business Studies | 143 | 58% | 18% | 37% | 20% | 86% |
| Combined Science | 138 | 56% | 65% | 3% | 9% | 62% |
| Physics | 106 | 43% | 23% | 37% | 46% | 98% |
| Chemistry | 106 | 43% | 23% | 44% | 47% | 97% |
| Biology | 106 | 43% | 23% | 42% | 45% | 98% |
| Media Studies | 87 | 36% | 4% | 8% | 20% | 63% |
| Geography | 86 | 35% | 41% | 43% | 25% | 83% |
| History | 80 | 33% | 41% | 50% | 26% | 91% |
| Physical Education | 78 | 32% | 11% | 19% | 24% | 81% |
| Spanish | 33 | 13% | 19% | 39% | 27% | 91% |
| Art and Design | 29 | 12% | 7% | 28% | 24% | 93% |
| Design and Technology | 22 | 9% | 11% | 27% | 23% | 86% |
| Computer Science | 21 | 9% | 13% | 52% | 30% | 76% |
| Textiles | 17 | 7% | 2% | 18% | 27% | 100% |
| Music | 15 | 6% | 5% | 7% | 33% | 73% |
| Drama | 14 | 6% | 7% | 0% | 27% | 43% |
| Graphic Communication | 11 | 4% | 1% | 45% | 23% | 100% |
| German | 3 | 1% | 5% | — | 33% | — |
| Statistics | 2 | 1% | 5% | — | 20% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 36 | 29% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 21 | 17% | — |
| Sports Studies | 14 | 11% | — |
| Dance: General | 10 | 8% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | Ponteland High School | Northumberland | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 278 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 125 | 1,089 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 33.61 | 34.22 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 11% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | 43 | 34% | 13% |
| Mathematics | 36 | 29% | 31% |
| Economics | 32 | 26% | 13% |
| Psychology | 31 | 25% | 23% |
| Biology | 31 | 25% | 20% |
| Chemistry | 22 | 18% | 17% |
| Media Studies | 21 | 17% | 4% |
| Physics | 18 | 14% | 12% |
| Religious Studies | 18 | 14% | 4% |
| Geography | 14 | 11% | 10% |
| Fine Art | 14 | 11% | 3% |
| English Language | 11 | 9% | 4% |
| English Literature | 8 | 6% | 11% |
| Product Design | 7 | 6% | 2% |
| Further Mathematics | 6 | 5% | 5% |
| History | — | — | 13% |
| Spanish | — | — | 2% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| French | — | — | 1% |
| Drama | — | — | 2% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | 81 | 65% | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 16 | 13% | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | 9 | 7% | — |
| Mathematical Studies | Core Maths Qualifications at Level 3 | 8 | 6% | — |
| Biology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 7 | 6% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Introductory Diploma at Level 3 | 6 | 5% | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | 6 | 5% | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Religious Studies | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Further Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Religious Studies | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Business Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Sports Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Northumberland
Bede Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 2,030 pupils
79% stayed in education · Attainment 8 48.9
Bedlington Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 822 pupils
76% stayed in education · Attainment 8 47.4
Berwick Academy
Academy converter · sixth form · 601 pupils
73% stayed in education · Attainment 8 40.3
Coquet Community School
Community school · sixth form · 567 pupils
81% stayed in education · Attainment 8 34.9
Cramlington Learning Village
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,989 pupils
80% stayed in education · Attainment 8 46.7
Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.