The five best secondary schools in Newcastle according to Government data

Time is running out for applications to secondary schools across Newcastle and the government regularly releases data showing how schools are performing based on a series of yearly test results.

The most thorough way to view these comes from the ‘Attainment 8’ score, which looks to calculate how much progress pupils make between the end of key stage two and the end of key stage four, in comparison to a national record of students at the end of key stage two.

This score is based on up to eight qualifications, including English and maths, three English Baccalaureate qualifications including sciences, computer science, history, geography and languages, and 3 other additional qualifications.

Newcastle High School for Girls

Based on the most recent set of government data which covers 70 key stage four leavers, the independent school has an Attainment 8 score of 59.2.

The secondary part of the school, which sits in Jesmond, has also seen 84% of their students obtain a grade 5 or above in maths and English.

Dame Allan’s Senior School

106 students left key stage four at Dame Allen’s Senior School in Fenham before the release of the last set of data and they combined for an Attainment 8 score of 55.7.

80% of the same students left with at least a grade 5 in English and maths.

St Mary’s Catholic School

The Catholic School in Longbenton is ranked third across the city based on Attainment 8 scores with 192 students joining forces for a 54.6 score.

Of the same section of students, 65% hit a grade 5 in both English and maths.

Gosforth Academy

The 363 students who left key stage four at Gosforth Academy were able to combine for an attainment 8 score of 53.2.

The school has also seen 57% of their students leave with a grade 5 in English and maths.

Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Just around the corner from Dame Allen’s in Fenham, Sacred Heart Catholic High School is ranked fifth across all secondary schools in Newcastle with a 52.7 attainment 8 score.

The school has also sent 42% of their data set of 211 students away with a grade of 5 or above in English and maths.