Outwood Academy Bishopsgarth Review 2026: A growing 11–16 academy with improving culture and a sharper focus on learning

A secondary academy that has expanded its intake and expectations in recent years, with an emphasis on calm routines, personal development time in the school day, and structured support for pupils who need it. Leadership sits within Outwood Grange Academies Trust, and the academy’s published admissions number for Year 7 entry in September 2026 is 180.

The most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, judged Quality of Education and Leadership and Management as Requires Improvement, with Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development as Good. The academy is led by Principal Jason Rhodes, who has held the headteacher or principal role since 01 September 2022.

For families, the practical appeal is straightforward: it is a state school, so there are no tuition fees, and admissions are coordinated through Stockton-on-Tees. The trade-off is that progress and outcomes remain an area requiring sustained improvement, and families should look closely at how the academy is addressing consistency in teaching and curriculum delivery.

The academy’s culture is built around routines and shared language. Tutor groups are organised by country themes linked to continents, which is a small detail, but it signals the emphasis on structure and identity through the day. Tutor time is not treated as a spare moment either; the timetable includes a distinct Personal Development and Growth slot mid-morning, plus a daily tutor programme that is framed around academic monitoring and pastoral check-ins.

A consistent feature in the academy’s public messaging is the idea that students should sit at the centre of decision-making. That shows up most clearly in the way student leadership is organised. Student Voice is run with a deliberate link to the UK constitutional model, including elections for a student Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, with cabinet roles that cover themes such as sustainability, charity, creative arts, anti-bullying, and mental wellbeing. For some children, this kind of formalised participation is a strong motivator; it offers clear responsibility rather than vague encouragement.

The academy is also in a phase of physical change. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council has described a multi-million-pound expansion programme at the site, including a new teaching block and additional science facilities. For parents, the implication is practical as well as educational: growth tends to bring new spaces and improved specialist rooms, but it can also create short-term pressures on site access and movement while works complete. The academy has previously issued operational updates about restricted car park access during on-site works, so day-to-day logistics can change at points in the year.

This is an 11–16 academy, so the headline phase data is GCSE level rather than A-level. On FindMySchool’s GCSE outcomes ranking, the academy is ranked 3,526th in England and 13th in Stockton-on-Tees (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). That placement sits below the England average overall, and it frames the core story parents need to understand: behaviour and personal development have moved in a more positive direction, but academic outcomes still need sustained improvement.

The academy’s Attainment 8 score is 32.1. Progress 8 is -0.88, indicating that, on average, pupils have made less progress than pupils nationally with similar starting points. In practice, that tends to be felt most by pupils who need tight sequencing and consistent classroom routines, because inconsistency in curriculum delivery hits those pupils first.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) indicators also signal that outcomes in this area are a challenge. The average EBacc APS score is 2.84, and 11.4% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across the EBacc measure. For families, the implication is not that the academy lacks ambition, but that pupils and parents should expect a strong focus on catch-up, reading support, and consistent homework habits, especially in Key Stage 4.

The curriculum approach is described as broad and balanced, with an explicit focus on access for all students rather than early restriction. The academy states that it builds timetables around students’ choices to reduce the usual limitations created by fixed option blocks. That matters most in Years 9 to 11, where a narrow or poorly organised option structure can close down pathways for students who change direction late or need a different balance of subjects.

Inclusion is presented as a core design principle rather than an add-on. The academy describes a Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Deep Support team, plus Bridge and Personalised Learning Centre provision. The practical takeaway is that the academy expects barriers to learning to show up in different ways, academic, emotional, social, and it has named mechanisms for intervening rather than relying on informal goodwill.

Reading is also treated as a whole-school priority. Formal evaluations have highlighted that pupils who struggle with reading are identified quickly and given targeted support, and that reading strategies are used more widely across lessons. This tends to be a strong indicator of how a school intends to improve outcomes, because better reading fluency makes progress possible across every subject, not just English.

As an 11–16 academy, the main transition point is post-16. The academy does not operate its own sixth form, so students typically progress to sixth-form provision or further education in the local area. For families, this makes early careers guidance and Key Stage 4 choices more important. Pupils need a realistic plan for the next step, whether that is A-level study, applied qualifications, or a college route linked to employment goals.

The academy highlights careers engagement through events and external opportunities, including participation in a regional skills and careers fair. That matters because a strong post-16 transition culture can offset weaker headline results; pupils who leave with a clear destination, good attendance habits, and improved literacy often do better than their grade profile alone might suggest.

Year 7 admissions are coordinated through Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council using the common application process. For September 2026 entry, the local authority deadline for on-time applications was 31 October 2025, and offers are issued on 01 March 2026 (or the next working day). The academy’s published admission number for September 2026 entry is 180.

For parents moving into the area or applying from outside Stockton-on-Tees, the key point is that the application route remains the local authority process, not a separate direct-to-school system. The academy is an academy within a multi-academy trust, but it sits inside the local coordinated admissions scheme for the main round.

Because the dataset does not provide a verified “last distance offered” figure for this school, families should avoid assuming that living nearby guarantees entry. If proximity is important to your planning, use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check your exact home-to-school distance and then verify the current oversubscription arrangements in the admissions policy for the relevant entry year.

Pastoral structures are visibly built into the timetable and the organisation of tutor groups, rather than being left to informal systems. Tutor time is framed as a daily point for monitoring attendance, conduct, and academic organisation, with assemblies delivered through tutor structures so that messages can be age-specific.

Student wellbeing leadership is also formalised through student roles. The academy’s Student Voice structure includes anti-bullying and mental wellbeing ambassador roles, which gives pupils a recognised way to contribute and be heard. For some children, particularly those who respond well to responsibility, this can strengthen belonging and reduce low-level conflict.

Ofsted also confirmed that pupils are safe and that staff go to great lengths to support pupils and families, particularly at difficult times, while noting that bullying has been a concern for some pupils even as incidents reduce. The best practical step for parents is to ask how concerns are logged, how quickly follow-up happens, and what communication looks like, because consistency in response is what builds confidence over time.

Extracurricular life is organised around elective enrichment rather than a single fixed menu. The academy describes after-school enrichment activities spanning sport, performance, craft, social opportunities and academic support. That is important for two reasons. First, it offers a route for pupils who need supervised study time and structured catch-up. Second, it gives pupils a reason to stay connected to school beyond lessons, which often improves attendance and behaviour indirectly.

There are also clear named strands that help distinguish the offer. Student Voice operates as a structured programme with elections and cabinet roles, which is more developed than the typical school council model. The academy also references an Honours programme within the trust, and sustainability initiatives as a specific participation route. For families, these initiatives can matter as much as conventional clubs, particularly for pupils who enjoy leadership, organisation, or social action as their main interest.

Arts and performance opportunities are referenced explicitly through clubs such as drama, music and photography. The key implication here is breadth: pupils who are not naturally drawn to competitive sport still have routes into after-school life, and creative participation often builds confidence for pupils who find academic learning harder.

The published school day begins at 8:20am, with Period 1 starting at 8:25am. The timetable includes a mid-morning Personal Development and Growth session, and the final taught period ends at 2:50pm. Lunch is staggered by year group, which can reduce pressure points and support calmer social time.

Site logistics can change during building works or operational updates. The academy has previously communicated temporary limits on car park access and advised families to use nearby parking and footpaths during short periods of on-site activity. If you rely on driving for drop-off and collection, it is worth monitoring the academy’s updates so routines stay predictable for students.

• Academic progress remains a priority area. Progress 8 is -0.88, which points to below-average progress from starting points. Families should ask how the academy is improving consistency in teaching across subjects, particularly in Key Stage 4.

• Inspection outcomes are mixed. Behaviour and personal development were judged positively, while education quality and leadership were judged as requiring improvement. That combination often indicates a school that has stabilised routines but is still embedding consistent classroom delivery.

• A growing intake changes the feel of a school. The Year 7 admission number for September 2026 is 180. Expansion can bring improved facilities, but it can also stretch staffing and systems if growth outpaces capacity.

• No on-site sixth form. Post-16 planning matters earlier here than it does in a 11–18 school. Families should ask how careers guidance and college or sixth-form applications are supported in Year 11.

This is a school in a transition phase: stronger routines, clearer personal development structures, and a widened admissions intake, alongside an ongoing need to raise consistency and academic outcomes. It will suit families who value structured pastoral systems, a formal student leadership offer, and an academy that is investing in facilities and capacity. Securing the right fit depends on your child’s learning needs and how well they respond to routine and targeted support, because the biggest variable is not opportunity, it is the pace of academic improvement.