Thorp Academy Review 2026: A School Where Inclusion and Ambition Coexist

The school that bears Charles Thorp's name occupies a site with genuine historical depth. Thorp, the 19th-century churchman and rector, went on to found Durham University, and the original Thorp School was established here in 1861. Today's incarnation took shape in 2014 when Ryton Comprehensive became an academy within Northern Education Trust. The rebuilt campus, delivered between 2016 and 2019 by Sir Robert McAlpine through the Department for Education's Priority Schools Building Scheme, reveals a modern estate arranged around a traditional quadrangle.

Thorp Academy serves approximately 1,500 students aged 11-18 from a wide catchment spanning Ryton, Crawcrook, Clara Vale, Winlaton, Blaydon, Greenside, High Spen, Highfield, Rowlands Gill and Chopwell — the largest catchment area in Gateshead. The school's population is 53% male and 47% female, with 24% eligible for free school meals. The school's June 2024 inspection identified it as Good, with particular strengths in behaviour, inclusion and academic progress.

Thorp Academy has built a reputation for inclusion without compromise. Student behaviour is described as excellent by inspectors, who noted pupils engage in mature conversation with peers and staff. Staff celebrate student achievement daily, a practice that builds confidence and motivation. This is a calm, orderly environment where expectations are consistently high.

The physical campus reflects its rebuild. Three main buildings arranged around a quadrangle create clear zones for different aspects of school life. The West Wing houses the Sixth Form Centre alongside the Performance Department, which brings together Music and Physical Education. The school hall, main reception, library and pastoral support occupy the southern block, while Humanities departments sit in the northern building, which also contains the main dining hall.

Joanna Macaulay became Principal in September 2023, arriving with the mandate to strengthen outcomes. Under her leadership, the school is navigating a period of consolidation following the academy conversion and physical rebuilding. Ofsted confirmed in June 2024 that the school "provides strong leadership that is unashamedly focused on improving the life chances of every pupil."

GCSE Performance

Thorp Academy ranks 1,296th in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the national typical band (25th to 60th percentile). This represents solid performance in line with the middle tier of English schools (FindMySchool ranking).

The Attainment 8 score of 47 sits slightly above the England average of 45.9. However, the Progress 8 score of -0.12 indicates pupils make marginally below-average progress from their starting points at Key Stage 2. This suggests cohort intake and prior attainment are factors shaping results; the school's challenge is to increase the value it adds during secondary education.

In English and Mathematics, 54% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above. Just under 30% secured all subjects within the English Baccalaureate at grade 5 or above, compared to the England average of around 40%, reflecting the school's wider subject engagement but noting some variation in advanced qualification outcomes.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form remains an area of development. A-level results place the school at rank 1,759 in England (bottom 34%), within the national lower band. Only 35% of A-level grades reached A*-B, significantly below the England average of 47%. This gap between GCSE and A-level outcomes points to sixth form performance as a specific area requiring attention, with some students struggling to sustain progress into post-16 study.

Positively, the sixth form curriculum is described as wide and varied, and students receive strong careers advice from Year 7 onwards. For those who navigate A-levels successfully, pathways to further study and employment are well supported.

In the 2023-24 cohort, 56% of leavers progressed to university, 11% began apprenticeships, 18% entered employment, and 3% moved into further education. This reveals a split pathway — roughly half heading toward higher education and half toward immediate work or training routes.

The school works with families on transition planning from Year 11 onwards, ensuring sixth form leavers move into destinations aligned with their abilities and interests.

Curriculum breadth is a strength. The school offers support across a range of special educational needs, including specific learning difficulties, visual and hearing impairments, speech and language communication needs, autism, emotional and mental health needs, and moderate learning difficulty. Current pupils with SEND make strong progress across all key stages, reflecting specialist support provision built into mainstream timetables.

Teachers access specialist training matched to aspects of teaching and learning where improvement is needed. Staff report reasonable workloads and access to professional development. The school's teaching model is applied consistently across departments, creating predictable structures pupils respond to well.

In core subjects, pupils attain well and develop transferable skills. However, Ofsted noted that a small minority of less effective teaching exists in the school — a reminder that consistency is being worked toward rather than fully embedded.

The school's wide catchment means students progress to a range of secondary alternatives. From Year 7, pathways diverge based on student choice and need. Post-16, just over half of leavers remain at Thorp's sixth form, whilst others move to colleges or specialist provisions elsewhere.

Sixth form destinations for those completing A-levels include university, apprenticeship and employment routes. The school's partnerships with local employers support apprenticeship placements for students seeking vocational progression.

The school sustains an active extracurricular programme underpinned by dedicated facilities and specialist staff. The Performance Department, housed in the West Wing, drives music and physical education beyond the curriculum.

Music and Drama

The school maintains chapel facilities and participates in musical performances throughout the year. Choir and ensemble opportunities provide students with structured ensemble experience. Drama productions occur regularly, with dedicated drama studio spaces and technical facilities allowing full-scale theatrical productions. Student-led performances feature prominently in the school calendar.

Sports and Physical Education

Sport is compulsory at Key Stage 3. The school competes in cricket, rugby, football, hockey, netball and athletics. Teams are fielded at multiple levels, allowing participation across ability ranges. The rebuilt campus includes enhanced sports hall provision from earlier investment (2003-2004 expansion) and modern PE facilities.

STEM and Clubs

Beyond the classroom, the school offers a range of clubs and after-school activities. These include academic enrichment (mathematics, science support), creative activities and recreational clubs. Parent feedback suggests 88% of families report their child can take part in clubs and activities outside lessons, reflecting the school's commitment to breadth.

The Mathematics and Computer Science departments have demonstrated excellence, with student progress in these areas ranking in the top 10% nationally (according to 2019 data), though recent performance varies year on year.

Thorp Academy is non-selective. Year 7 entry is coordinated through Gateshead's standard admissions process, with places allocated by proximity to the school gates after looked-after children and siblings. The school is oversubscribed, with 1.39 applications per place in the measured year.

Entry to sixth form is conditional on achieving grades 4-5 in core subjects or higher, depending on subject choice. Students from other schools can apply, and the sixth form accepts both internal progression and external entry.

The school prioritises personal development. Pastoral support structures include house systems where staff know individual students. Ofsted found safeguarding arrangements to be effective. The school responds decisively to inappropriate behaviour, ensuring it does not persist. Pupils describe feeling safe; 74% of parents surveyed agree their child feels safe at school.

For pupils with additional emotional or mental health needs, counselling is available. The culture emphasises respect for others and positive relationships. Students with SEND receive tailored support to overcome barriers to learning.

Thorp Academy opens at 8:30am and closes at 3:15pm for main school, with extended hours in the sixth form. The school is accessible via public transport; the nearest rail link is Ryton Station on the Tyne and Wear Metro. Parking is available on-site.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should budget for uniform (grey jumper, black trousers, blue shirt), PE kit, and contributions toward trips and practical sessions. Some music lessons are charged separately.

Sixth form outcomes require attention. Progress 8 scores at GCSE are marginally negative, and A-level results sit below England average. For families considering post-16 study at Thorp, ask detailed questions about support structures and recent outcomes in your student's subject area. The sixth form curriculum is wide, but student destinations and grades suggest not all pathways are equally strong.

Catchment spread is wide. Whilst the largest catchment in Gateshead creates diverse intake, it also means travel times can be significant for students from Greenside, Rowlands Gill or Chopwell. Bus routes are supported, but daily journey times may exceed an hour for distant families.

Inclusion is genuine, not superficial. The school commits genuine resources to SEND support and provision for pupils with autism, communication needs and learning difficulties is well established. For families of children with identified needs, this can be a strength. For those seeking a purely academic environment, the school's focus on inclusion across all ability ranges is worth understanding.

Behaviour culture is strong. The inspection noted excellent behaviour and a positive working atmosphere. However, inspect this yourself during open days — school environments feel different to different visitors, and cultural fit matters greatly.

Thorp Academy is a school built explicitly around inclusion. The consistent behaviour culture, wide catchment served, and genuine specialist provision for students with additional needs suggest the school's values extend beyond rhetoric. Results are solid at GCSE, sitting in line with the England middle range; outcomes matter here, and the school pursues them rigorously.

The sixth form is the school's acknowledged area of challenge. Post-16 students experience below-average progress and grades, suggesting either that sixth form support structures need strengthening or that self-selected cohorts are less-developed on entry. Families seeking sixth form study should weigh this honestly.

Best suited to families wanting a genuinely inclusive secondary school where behaviour is calm, expectations are clear, and specialist support for SEND is integral to school design rather than bolted on. Strong for GCSE preparation; check specific A-level outcomes for your subject before committing to sixth form.