Grace College Review 2026: A character-led 11–18 academy in Gateshead with a Good sixth form

This is a large, mixed secondary and sixth form serving the Low Fell and wider Gateshead area, part of the Emmanuel Schools Foundation. With capacity for 1,432 and around 1,146 pupils currently on roll, it operates at a scale where consistency matters, both in classroom routines and behaviour expectations.

The most recent graded inspection (July 2023) identified variable quality across subjects and behaviour that was not yet secure enough, while also judging sixth-form provision as Good. The college’s own published materials position it as a Christian-ethos “school of character”, despite its official designation having no religious character, which is important for families weighing culture and values alongside the formal curriculum.

Grace College’s identity is tightly linked to “character” and personal development, with a clear attempt to build shared language and expectations. The Ofsted report describes leaders raising expectations of behaviour and pupils beginning to respond, but also notes that too many pupils were still not meeting the standard required for learning to run smoothly.

The college also foregrounds a daily communal rhythm. Recruitment materials reference a daily broadcast called “Good Morning Grace” as part of a routine act of worship, which is a distinctive feature for a school that is formally recorded as having no religious character. For parents, the practical implication is straightforward: the culture is values-led and explicitly shaped by the trust’s ethos, so it will suit families who welcome that framing, even if they are not actively religious, but it may not suit those who prefer a strictly secular tone to assemblies and messaging.

Leadership stability is relevant context. Mrs Rachael Hooker is listed as Headteacher/Principal on the government’s Get Information About Schools service. The July 2023 inspection also records significant leadership change, with the lead principal and head of school appointed permanently in April 2023 after an interim period.

At GCSE, the picture is challenging. Average Attainment 8 is 35.4 and the Progress 8 score is -1.07, indicating pupils make substantially less progress than similar pupils nationally from their starting points. EBacc outcomes are also low, with 16.2% achieving grade 5 or above across the EBacc measure shown.

On FindMySchool’s GCSE outcomes ranking (based on official data), the school is ranked 3,097th in England and 5th in Gateshead. This performance sits below England average, placing it in the lower 40% of schools in England on the FindMySchool distribution.

Sixth form outcomes are also below England averages on the measures provided. 23.66% of entries achieved A*–B (A* 1.08%, A 4.3%, B 18.28%), compared with an England A*–B average of 47.2%. On FindMySchool’s A-level outcomes ranking (based on official data), the sixth form is ranked 2,367th in England and 4th in Gateshead, again placing it below England average on the FindMySchool distribution.

(Notes for interpretation: rankings and exam metrics above are taken from the provided dataset and should be used for like-for-like comparisons within England.)

A key theme in the most recent inspection is unevenness by subject. The report describes ambitious intent from leaders, curriculum mapping work underway, and better planning for pupils to revisit important knowledge, but it also states these ambitions were not yet sufficiently realised across all subjects at the time.

Reading support is highlighted as a targeted strategy, particularly for Years 7 and 8, with an identified gap in equivalent support for older pupils. For families, the implication is that younger pupils who need help closing literacy gaps may benefit from structured catch-up, but parents of older pupils should ask directly what literacy support looks like post-Key Stage 3.

Sixth form teaching is described as stronger, with challenging material and individual feedback supporting students to improve, alongside planned leadership responsibilities such as student leaders and “buddy reader” roles.

Where Students Go Next

The college’s destinations picture suggests a mixed set of pathways after Year 13. For the 2023/24 cohort (56 students), 46% progressed to university, 7% to apprenticeships, 23% to employment, and 4% to further education.

Oxbridge progression exists but at a small scale. In the measured period provided, two students applied and one secured a place.

For families, the practical message is that the sixth form supports multiple routes, not only traditional university progression. Students who want apprenticeships or employment routes should ask early how the careers programme, placements, and application coaching work for their chosen pathway.

Year 7 entry is coordinated through Gateshead’s admissions process for residents, with applications opening on 8 September 2025 and the closing date on 31 October 2025 for September 2026 entry.

Grace College’s published Year 7 Planned Admission Number is 210. If applications exceed that number, oversubscription is decided using the published criteria. The admissions policy confirms the school is comprehensive and open to all pupils without reference to ability.

Offer day aligns to the national timetable. The college’s admissions policy states offers are made on 1 March (or the next working day if that falls on a weekend), and Gateshead’s September 2026 timeline indicates offers are issued on 2 March 2026, which is the first working day after 1 March 2026.

Open evenings appear to run in early autumn. A September 2025 letter to families about secondary transfer lists an open evening for Grace College on 1 October 2025, which suggests a typical pattern of late September to early October. Families should check the college’s current calendar before making travel plans.

The July 2023 inspection describes pupils as safe, with safeguarding arrangements effective, and notes work to promote tolerance and kindness. At the same time, it flags that when bullying happens, some pupils were not confident it would be dealt with effectively, and it points to behaviour and attendance issues that were limiting learning for too many pupils.

A useful practical question for parents is how the college now tracks and responds to bullying reports, including how outcomes are communicated back to families, and how attendance support is structured for students with persistent absence.

Co-curricular breadth is clearly part of the intended offer. The inspection report refers to a “co-curricular” programme that includes trips abroad, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and a range of clubs, with an internal attendance push branded “Grace us with your presence”.

Sixth form students are explicitly expected to take responsibility beyond their own timetable, with examples including student leadership roles, acting as “buddy readers” for younger pupils, and running clubs. The implication is that students who thrive with structured responsibility and visible roles may find the sixth form a stronger fit than lower school, while younger pupils may need encouragement to participate consistently if confidence or routines are still developing.

Grace College is a state-funded school with no tuition fees. Families should still budget for normal secondary costs such as uniform, transport, equipment, trips, and optional enrichment activities, which vary by year group and subject choices.

Publicly accessible sources used for this review did not consistently publish a single, definitive set of daily start and finish times in a format that can be verified without relying on third-party summaries. Parents should confirm the current timings directly with the college, especially where transport arrangements depend on the bell schedule.

• Academic outcomes are currently below England average. GCSE Progress 8 is -1.07 and A-level grades A*–B are 23.66% on the measures provided, which is well below the England A*–B average of 47.2%. This is a key factor for academically driven families.

• Consistency of behaviour and attendance has been a documented issue. The latest graded inspection describes improvements underway but still too many pupils not meeting expectations, with behaviour and attendance limiting learning.

• Personal development content has been identified as an area to strengthen. The inspection report notes that pupils could not recall important aspects of the personal development curriculum at the time, including relationships and sex education coverage not being thorough enough.

• The culture is explicitly values-led. The trust and school materials describe a Christian-ethos approach, even though the school’s formal designation has no religious character. Families should decide whether that tone aligns with their preferences.

Grace College is a large Gateshead secondary and sixth form with a clear attempt to build a character-led culture and a stronger sixth-form experience than lower school, but with academic outcomes and consistency that remain the central concerns in the available data. It will suit families who prioritise an ethos-driven school and want a sixth form that offers structured leadership opportunities alongside multiple progression routes. The key decision is whether the current results picture and the improvement journey match your child’s needs and learning profile.