Sedgefield Community College

Sedgefield Community College is a larger-than-average secondary school in the Laidlaw Schools Trust. A full section 5 inspection in June 2026 found it performing strongly across all evaluated areas, with safeguarding standards met. Pupils take pride in their work and achieve well: attainment is above national averages in national tests, and disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND make strong progress from their starting points. Attendance is a particular strength, with overall absence and persistent absence well below national averages, and behaviour is calm and respectful. The curriculum is broad, ambitious and well taught by subject experts, with effective checking of understanding and support for pupils with gaps in basic skills. Inclusion is a real strength, with early identification of needs, close work with primary schools and professionals, and tailored support that helps pupils become independent. Leadership and governance are effective, staff feel well supported, and trust collaboration is strong. The personal development programme, enrichment and careers education are rich, preparing pupils well for their next steps. The report identifies no areas of underperformance. Inspectors noted a serious incident involving a former pupil since the previous inspection, but considered the school's response alongside other evidence; they also confirmed the school currently uses three alternative provisions, one of which is unregistered. The only formal next step is for leaders to continue refining and embedding their existing priorities to sustain improvement.

Strengths

• Pupils take immense pride in their work and produce high-quality work across the curriculum.
• Pupils, including disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, progress well from their starting points.
• Attainment is above the national average in national tests, including for disadvantaged pupils.
• Attendance is a considerable strength, with overall and persistent absence well below national averages.
• Behaviour is calm and purposeful, with clear systems consistently applied.
• Pupils demonstrate mutual respect and resolve conflict well.
• Curriculum is broad, ambitious and continually evolves to meet pupils' needs.
• Teachers are subject experts who consistently teach well and check understanding before moving on.
• Live marking and skilled questioning help pupils address errors and misconceptions.
• Pupils develop a complex vocabulary and become confident readers, writers and communicators.
• Inclusion is strong, with early identification of needs and tailored support.
• Disadvantaged pupils and those known to social care receive resources they need to succeed.
• Leadership has an astute understanding of the school and high expectations realised by all.
• Trustees and governors know the school well and hold leaders to account.
• Staff are proud to work at the school and value support for wellbeing and professional learning.
• Personal development programme is thoughtful and helps pupils stay safe and healthy.
• Pupils benefit from a rich super curriculum, enrichment and careers programme.
• Pupils are well cared for and receive effective emotional and mental health support.
• Pupils move on to meaningful education, employment or training.

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 Sedgefield Community College attended 94.0% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 13.9% 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, 2.5% of pupils at Sedgefield Community College 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 Sedgefield Community College had 17.1 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 1.4% 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, 14.5% of pupils at Sedgefield Community College were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 4.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 2024–25 Sedgefield Community College received £9,825 and spent £9,503 for each of its 981 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,640,000 (£1,671 per pupil).

Across all 10 schools of The Laidlaw Schools Trust, income was £9,582 and spending £9,338 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Stockton-On-Tees · County Durham local authority: places and applications

Sedgefield Community College is part of The Laidlaw Schools Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Sedgefield Hardwick Primary Academy Stockton-On-Tees
• Academy 360 Sunderland
• Oxclose Community Academy Washington
• South Hylton Primary Academy Sunderland
• Oxclose Primary Academy Washington
• Westgate Hill Primary Academy Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
• Atkinson Road Primary Academy Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
• Excelsior Academy Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
• Thomas Walling Primary Academy Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

What is Sedgefield Community College's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sedgefield Community College is Strong standard, from an inspection in September 2026.

When was Sedgefield Community College last inspected by Ofsted?

Sedgefield Community College was last inspected in September 2026.

How many pupils does Sedgefield Community College have?

Sedgefield Community College has 982 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sedgefield Community College cover?

Sedgefield Community College for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Sedgefield Community College's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 52.4, and 55% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Sedgefield Community College?

Sedgefield Community College is at Hawthorn Road, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, TS21 3DD.