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Whitworth Park Academy

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy

Whitworth Lane, Spennymoor DL16 7LN · whitworthpark.org.uk · 01388 824800

On the mapSearch near DL16 7LN

Overview

Ofsted
Good
2019 framework · inspected Oct 2022
GCSEs, 2024/25
50.4
average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
Last distance offered
5.26 mi
8.46 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · County Durham Council
Demand for places
1.0
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
996
77% of 1,300 places
Local authority
County Durham
Sixth form
No
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
37.8%
First language not English
3.1%
School census 2025/26
Trust
Advance Learning Partnership

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 5.26 mi (8.46 km) from the school. Source: County Durham Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 219 families put the school first and 218 places were offered; 97% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 140 (Places 188)140September 2023: 168 (Places 201)168September 2024: 172 (Places 188)172September 2025: 182 (Places 195)182September 2026: 219 (Places 218)219Places 218
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20262182191▲97%
September 2025Sept 20251951820.9100%
September 2024Sept 20241881720.999%
September 2023Sept 20232011680.8100%
September 2022Sept 20221881400.7100%

Last distance offered

Year 7Distance
September 20265.26 mi8.46 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 50.4, and 55.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across County Durham it was 44.1, and across England 46.

In 2017/18 the average A level result was grade D+ (23.2 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 41.8 (England 46.3)41.82018/19: 39.9 (England 46.7)39.92021/22: 51.3 (England 48.8)51.32022/23: 48.4 (England 46.3)48.42023/24: 47.7 (England 45.9)47.72024/25: 50.4 (England 46.0)50.4England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲50.446.0
▲55.4%45.4%
▲70.3%64.8%
▼5.4%40.5%
●3.954.09

Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 114300)

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form23.8−4.4
Further education56.9+8.8
Apprenticeship3.8−2.3
Employment2.3−2.3
Not in a lasting destination7.7−1.5
Activity not captured5.4+3.1

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

15/1616/1717/182015/16: 23.7 (England 30.5)D+2016/17: 24.7 (England 31.1)D+2017/18: 23.2 (England 32.1)D+England 32.1
2017/18TrendAverage gradeProgress
18 studentsD+ (23.2)Average -0.08
18 studentsD+ (23.1)Average -0.09
Applied general8 studentsMerit (25.7)Average +0.28
11.1%AAB or better
70%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2016/1768D+ (24.7)-0.37
2015/1656D+ (23.7)-0.10

Published for the predecessor school (URN 114300)

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/18
Left in 2017/18Since 2016/17
University35−17
Further and other education15—
Further education10—
Other education5—
Apprenticeship20−10
Employment15+7
Not in a lasting destination10+2
Activity not captured5+4

Published for the predecessor school (URN 114300)

Ofsted

Whitworth Park Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 5 October 2022, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.

Overall
Good
Inspected
5 Oct 2022
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood

Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Dec 2016

Earlier inspections

Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 114300), which Ofsted links to this one.

Before September 2019

  • Dec 2016Inadequate
    Outcomes for pupilsInadequate
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentRequires improvement
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareRequires improvement
    Leadership and managementRequires improvement
    16 to 19 study programmesRequires improvement
    SafeguardingEffective

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114300)

  • Sept 2013Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

    Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 114300)

What parents said

72% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (158 replies, to 4 September 2023).

Recommend
72%
Replies
158
20% · 4 Sept 2023
Child is happy at school▼80% agreeEngland 88%
Child feels safe▼82% agreeEngland 89%
Pupils are well behaved▼72% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼78% agreeEngland 82%
Child does well▼76% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼62% agreeEngland 82%
Told how child is doing▼71% agreeEngland 84%
Good range of subjects▼87% agreeEngland 90%
Can join clubs and activities▲95% agreeEngland 90%
Supports personal development▼70% agreeEngland 78%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼64% agreeEngland 76%

based on the 77% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼40% agreeEngland 49%

based on the 42% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼51% agreeEngland 67%

based on 36 parents (23%) with SEND

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