Whilst Progress 8 remains the main performance benchmark on which secondary schools are judged, how pupils perform in the core subjects of maths and English is still seen as pivotal to their future life-chances.
It’s why the DfE still publish a raw percentage performance for these two subjects, which are also given a double weighting when calculating each school’s Progress 8 score.
The main percentage on which schools are ranked is determined by the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 (strong pass) in maths and English, although a percentage figure is also published for pupils achieving a grade 4 (standard pass/low old grade C) in the two core subjects.
The 2024 cohort of Newcastle pupils generally achieved slightly less than their national counterparts with 42.2% of students attaining a Grade 5 or above in maths and English, compared to 45.9% in all state funded English schools.
Check out how your son or daughter’s school performed. Special schools have not been included in the list.

9. Kenton School
Kenton School saw 29.2% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above (old high grade C equivalent) in maths and English which is below the local authority average of 42.2% and national state-funded school average of 45.9%. 49% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above (old low level grade C equivalent) in Maths and English. | Google

10. Benfield School
Benfield School saw 26.3% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above (old high grade C equivalent) in maths and English which is below the local authority average of 42.2% and national state-funded school average of 45.9%. 48.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above (old low level grade C equivalent) in Maths and English. | Google Photo: Google

11. Walker Riverside Academy
Walker Riverside Academy saw 22.6% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above (old high grade C equivalent) in maths and English which is below the local authority average of 42.2% and national state-funded school average of 45.9%. 47.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above (old low level grade C equivalent) in Maths and English. | Google Photo: Google

12. Excelsior Academy
Excelsior Academy saw 16.3% of pupils achieve a grade 5 or above (old high grade C equivalent) in maths and English which is below the local authority average of 42.2% and national state-funded school average of 45.9%. 33.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above (old low level grade C equivalent) in Maths and English. | Google


