Unity City Academy Review 2026: An Ambitious Community Hub in Middlesbrough

Unity City Academy (UCA), now known as Lift Unity City, serves the Ormesby area of Middlesbrough as a large, inclusive secondary school with a capacity for 1,050 students. Since joining the Lift Schools trust (formerly Academies Enterprise Trust), the school has undergone a significant transformation in culture and expectations. While academic data shows that performance remains below England averages, the school is recognised for its strong pastoral support and its role as a stable, supportive environment for a diverse student population. The school was rated Good by Ofsted in 2022, marking a successful period of stability and improvement under a focused leadership team.

The atmosphere at Unity City Academy is one of purposeful activity and clear structure. The school operates with a firm belief that every student, regardless of their starting point, should have access to a broad and stimulating education. This is visible in the corridors and classrooms, where a consistent behaviour policy, known as the "UCA Way," ensures a calm environment for learning.

Mrs Jill Gray took over as Principal in September 2025, bringing experience from the post-16 sector to lead the school's next chapter. Under her leadership, there is a visible emphasis on "Social Justice through Exceptional Education." This means the school explicitly targets barriers to learning that many local students face, ensuring that the school acts as an engine for social mobility.

The student body is diverse, and the school celebrates this through a curriculum that includes global perspectives and a strong emphasis on British values. Students frequently describe the school as a place where they feel safe and where staff genuinely care about their personal well-being as much as their grades.

In terms of academic outcomes, Unity City Academy continues to work toward raising standards. In 2024, the school achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 31.8. The Progress 8 score of -0.87 indicates that, on average, students achieve nearly a grade lower than similar students in other schools in England.

The school ranks 3,732nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 11th locally in Middlesbrough. Performance sits within the lower 40% of schools in England (81st percentile), which reflects the significant challenges the intake faces and the ongoing journey of improvement the school is undertaking.

However, the school highlights that these headline figures do not tell the full story. There is a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), though currently, only 1.7% of students achieve a grade 5 or above in this suite of subjects. Leaders are actively working to increase the number of students taking triple science, modern foreign languages, and history or geography to improve these metrics over the coming years.

Teaching at Unity City Academy is built on a framework of direct instruction and frequent retrieval practice. This approach is designed to help students build long-term memory and bridge gaps in knowledge that may have formed during primary school. Teachers have strong subject knowledge, and there is a shared commitment across departments to use a common "lesson DNA" so that students know exactly what to expect in every classroom.

The curriculum is broad in Key Stage 3, giving students exposure to the arts, technology, and physical education alongside the core subjects of English, Maths, and Science. At Key Stage 4, students can choose from a variety of vocational and academic pathways, including BTECs in Health and Social Care and Creative iMedia, which are popular and well-taught.

Where Students Go Next

As a school for 11 to 16-year-olds, the transition at the end of Year 11 is a critical milestone. Unity City Academy has a dedicated careers team that works with every student to secure a place in further education or training.

The majority of students progress to local colleges such as Middlesbrough College, Stockton Sixth Form College, or Prior Pursglove. A smaller but growing number of students successfully secure apprenticeships with local engineering and service firms. The school tracks destinations closely to ensure that no student becomes "NEET" (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and recent figures suggest that over 90% of leavers successfully transition into a positive next step.

Unity City Academy is an oversubscribed school, reflecting its growing reputation in the local community. In the most recent intake period, the school received 363 applications for its 210 places, meaning there were approximately 1.79 applications for every available seat.

Admissions are coordinated by Middlesbrough Council. While the school is inclusive and serves a wide area, the high number of first-preference applications means that families living further away may find it difficult to secure a place. Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search to check their precise distance from the school gates compared to the surrounding catchment area to gauge their likelihood of entry.

Fees & Financial Aid

As a state-funded academy, Unity City Academy does not charge tuition fees. Education is provided free of charge to all pupils aged 11 to 16. The school also provides support for families eligible for Pupil Premium funding, which can assist with the costs of school uniforms, educational trips, and essential learning materials.

Pastoral care is arguably the school's greatest strength. The school uses a "Year Hub" system, where each year group has a dedicated non-teaching Head of Year and a Student Support Leader. This ensures that there is always a member of staff available to deal with issues as they arise, whether they are academic, social, or emotional.

The school provides a range of interventions, including "The Base," a specialist provision for students who need extra support with their behaviour or emotional regulation. There is also a strong focus on attendance, with a dedicated team that works closely with families to overcome barriers to coming to school.

The extracurricular life at Unity City Academy is designed to provide "cultural capital" to students who might not otherwise have access to such opportunities.

STEM

UCA has a growing reputation for STEM excellence. The school participates in various regional challenges and has a focus on digital literacy. There is a strong Coding Club and a "Science Discovery" group that explores advanced chemistry and physics through hands-on experiments.

Creative Arts & Sport

The arts are well-represented, with a vibrant choir and regular drama productions that take place in the school’s main hall. In sport, the school makes excellent use of its large playing fields and indoor sports hall. The football and basketball teams are competitive in local leagues, and there is a popular "active girls" programme designed to increase participation in physical activity among female students.

The school day begins at 8:25am and concludes at 2:50pm. For students requiring extra support or enrichment, after-school sessions often run until 3:50pm.

The academy is located on Ormesby Road, which is well-served by local bus routes (specifically the 9 and 12 services). There is ample cycle storage on site, and the school encourages students to walk or cycle where safe to do so. Travel by car can be congested during peak times, and parents are encouraged to use the designated drop-off points to ensure student safety.

• Academic Improvement Journey: While the school is rated Good by Ofsted, its GCSE results and Progress 8 scores are currently below the England average. Families should look at the trajectory of improvement rather than just the raw data from 2024.
• Oversubscription: With 1.79 applications for every place, securing a spot is not guaranteed. Families should have a clear "Plan B" if UCA is their first choice.
• 11-16 Only: As there is no on-site sixth form, students must be prepared to move to a new environment at age 16. The school provides excellent support for this, but it requires a level of independence from students.

Unity City Academy is a school that provides a safe, structured, and ambitious environment for the young people of Middlesbrough. It is a school that prioritises the "whole child," offering exceptional pastoral care alongside a curriculum that is becoming increasingly rigorous. Best suited to local families who want a school with a strong community feel and a clear set of values. Families comparing local performance can use the Local Hub page to view these results side-by-side using the Comparison Tool.