The short version
Below-average GCSE results. Nearly full. Rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted (2023).
- GCSE results are below the national average (Attainment 8: 32.0 vs national 43.8)
- Rated Requires Improvement by Ofsted in 2023
- This is a Church of England school, so faith criteria may apply to admissions
Performance
DfE published dataOfficial DfE Results
Attainment 8
Average points across 8 GCSE subjects
32.0
11.8 vs nationalEnglish & maths (grade 5+)
Strong pass in both core subjects
21%
21.1pp vs nationalEBacc entry
Academic subjects including a language
11%
A-Level Average
Mean grade across subjects
C-
A-Level Value Added
Progress vs expected
-0.33
Band 3Source: Department for Education Performance Tables 2024-25
Post-GCSE Destinations
These figures track pupils 6 months after leaving. Source: DfE destination measures.
Sustained destination
In education, employment or training
89%
Continuing education
Sixth form, FE college, or school
72%
Apprenticeships
Work combined with training
11%
Employment
Directly into work
5%
Not sustained
Not in education, employment or training
9%
Based on 167 leavers
Source: DfE Destination Measures 2024/25
Attendance
In practice: Pupils miss about 25 days per year on average — over a month of school.
38% of pupils miss 10% or more of school
7% of pupils miss half or more of school sessions
Source: DfE School Census
Staffing
On average, 16 pupils share each qualified teacher, but with teaching assistants there's 1 adult for every 11 pupils.
Staff breakdown
Plus 98 other support staff
Source: DfE School Workforce Census
School details
Published dataProfile
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–19
- Intake
- Mixed
- Character
- Church of England
Numbers
- Pupils
- 1,045
- Capacity
- 91%
- FSM
- 49.6%
- Admissions
- Non-selective
Governance
- Local authority
- Northumberland
- Trust
- NORTHUMBERLAND CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY TRUST
- Head
- Mr Ruston Atkinson (Executive Director)
Provisions
- Sixth form
- Yes
Inspection record
Official linksMonitoring visit
13 official reports linked on this page, including 12 earlier reports.
Previous reports
School inspection: Requires Improvement
June 2023 | School Inspection
Monitoring visit
January 2022 | Monitoring Visit
Monitoring visit
January 2021 | Monitoring Visit
Monitoring visit
October 2020 | Monitoring Visit
School inspection: Inadequate
March 2020 | School Inspection
Monitoring visit
December 2018 | Monitoring Visit
Full inspection: Requires Improvement
November 2017 | Full Inspection
Full inspection: Requires Improvement
September 2015 | Full Inspection
Monitoring visit
February 2014 | Monitoring Visit
Full inspection: Requires Improvement
October 2013 | Full Inspection
Full inspection: Satisfactory
May 2012 | Full Inspection
Monitoring visit
May 2011 | Monitoring Visit
Location
Academy Road, Ashington, Northumberland, NE63 9FZ
Town setting
Schools nearby
Within 2.5 kmSeaton Hirst Church of England Middle School
Middle deemed secondary · Very close
NCEA Bishop's Primary School
Primary · Very close
NCEA Castle School
Academy · Very close
Hirst High School
Secondary · Very close
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington
Primary · 424m away
NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary School
Primary · 520m away
NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School
Primary · 1.2km away
Central Primary School
Primary · 1.4km away
Questions parents ask
Is NCEA Duke's Secondary School a selective school?
No. NCEA Duke's Secondary School is non-selective, so admission does not depend on an entrance exam.
What is NCEA Duke's Secondary School's Ofsted rating?
NCEA Duke's Secondary School was rated Requires Improvement at its most recent inspection in November 2024. Full reports are linked on this page.
How many pupils attend NCEA Duke's Secondary School?
NCEA Duke's Secondary School currently has 1,045 pupils on roll, according to the latest Department for Education data.
What ages does NCEA Duke's Secondary School take?
NCEA Duke's Secondary School caters for pupils aged 11 to 19. It is classified as a secondary school.
Where is NCEA Duke's Secondary School?
NCEA Duke's Secondary School is in Ashington, NE63 9FZ, in the Northumberland local authority area. The map on this page shows the exact location and nearby schools.
Does NCEA Duke's Secondary School have a sixth form?
Yes, NCEA Duke's Secondary School has a sixth form, so pupils can continue to A-levels or equivalent qualifications without changing school.
Premium school profiles
Researching a selective school?
We hold deep admissions intelligence on the UK's top selective schools — exam breakdowns, interview formats, and parent strategy briefs.