In a July 2025 inspection, Benfield School the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management were rated as requiring improvement. The personal development was rated as good. placeholder image
In a July 2025 inspection, Benfield School the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes and leadership and management were rated as requiring improvement. The personal development was rated as good. | Google

The current Ofsted ratings of Newcastle secondary schools before grades are scrapped

As the existing Ofsted grading system could soon be scrapped, take a look at the ratings currently held by secondary schools in Newcastle.

Under the proposal, state-funded schools would be evaluated in at least nine different categories - including new ones like attendance and inclusion - with each given a colour-coded grade on a new, five-point scale.

The watchdog would stick with its decision late last year to drop overall one-word ratings, which had made national headlines after a coroner ruled that an inspection which saw her school downgraded contributed to the suicide of headteacher Ruth Perry.

However, teaching and education unions remain vocally unhappy with the new proposed changes, which they fear will have the same issues as the current inspection system.

If the proposals are implemented, schools will no longer be judged by whether their provision is ‘inadequate’, ‘requires improvement’, ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, instead each catgegory will be colour coded, starting with red (causing concern) on the left, followed by orange (attention needed), light green (secure), medium green (strong), and dark green (exemplary).

You can read more about these changes to Ofsted inspections here but below we have outlined where all the Newcastle secondary schools currently stand according to Ofsted’s grading system, before it all changes again!

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