Whitley Bay High School

Whitley Bay High School is performing exceptionally well, achieving an overall effectiveness rating of outstanding. The school has not undergone routine inspection since 2013, owing to its previous outstanding status. The pupils thrive due to an exceptional quality of education, a well-thought-out curriculum, and robust personal development programs, which help students prepare for their future education or employment. The school fosters a strong sense of community and social responsibility among students, enhancing their overall experience and personal growth.

Strengths

• Exceptional quality of education
• Strong academic core in the curriculum
• Outstanding personal development programs
• Vibrant extra-curricular life
• Exemplary behavior and attitudes among pupils
• Effective strategies for supporting pupils with SEND
• High achievement across all key stages

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Whitley Bay High School attended 93.3% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 14.6% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.1% of pupils at Whitley Bay High School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Whitley Bay High School had 17.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.6% of pupils at Whitley Bay High School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has resourced provision with 6 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Whitley Bay High School received £6,884 and spent £6,933 for each of its 1,797 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £152,000 (£85 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Whitley Bay · North Tyneside local authority: places and applications

Whitley Bay High School is part of The North Tyneside Learning Trust, which runs 29 schools. The nearest others:

• Valley Gardens Middle School Whitley Bay
• Monkseaton Coastal School Whitley Bay
• Appletree Gardens First School Whitley Bay
• Marden Bridge Middle School Whitley Bay
• Woodlawn School Whitley Bay
• Monkseaton High School Whitley Bay
• Rockcliffe First School Whitley Bay
• Monkhouse Primary School North Shields
• Marden High School North Shields
• Southlands School North Shields

What is Whitley Bay High School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Whitley Bay High School is Outstanding, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Whitley Bay High School last inspected by Ofsted?

Whitley Bay High School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Whitley Bay High School have?

Whitley Bay High School has 1,797 pupils on roll.

What age range does Whitley Bay High School cover?

Whitley Bay High School for pupils aged 13 to 18.

Where is Whitley Bay High School?

Whitley Bay High School is at Deneholm, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, NE25 9AS.