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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Requires improvementURN 150195

John Spence Community High School

Academy converter · North Shields · NE29 9PU

Ages 11–16 · 872 pupils · North Tyneside

School website

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Overall absence

11.1%

Admissions demand

0.91 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Requires improvement

Inspection date

2023-06-06

Overall effectiveness
Requires improvement
Quality of education
Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Requires improvement
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence11.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)31.0%
Unauthorised5.3%
Authorised absence
5.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
6.0%
Enrolments in measure
897

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.91 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

101

Places offered

121

1st-preference offers

100

Total preferences (any rank)
272
Preferred offers (top 3)
111
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill99%

872 pupils · 885 places

Pupils on roll
872
Boys / girls
461 / 411
School capacity
885
Capacity fill
872 / 885 (99%)
Free school meals
51.3%
FSM pupils
447
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: PELE TRUST
Academy trust
PELE TRUST
Headteacher
Jonathan Heath

Location

Address
Preston Road
Postcode
NE29 9PU
Town
North Shields
County
Tyne and Wear
Local authority
North Tyneside
District
North Tyneside
Constituency
Tynemouth
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–16, in North Shields, North Tyneside, 872 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, special school, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 51.3%. SEN provision includes: MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in North Shields
21
Secondary schools in North Shields
4
Academies among open schools in North Shields
38% (8)
Open schools in NE29
13
Secondary in NE29
3
Open schools in North Tyneside LA
87
Secondary in North Tyneside LA
12

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in North ShieldsNear NE29

  • Marden High School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Foundation school · Secondary

    North Shields · NE30 3RZ · North Tyneside

    Ages 11–16

    • Att853.7
    • P80.4
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence5.9%

    0.5 miles away

  • Monkseaton High School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Whitley Bay · NE25 9EQ · North Tyneside

    Ages 13–18

    • Att838.3
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+28%
    • Absence10.6%

    0.8 miles away

  • St Thomas More Catholic High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    North Shields · NE29 8LF · North Tyneside

    Ages 11–18

    • Att849.2
    • P80.2
    • EM5+44%
    • Absence9.1%

    1.0 miles away

  • Norham High School

    Ofsted: Good

    Foundation school · Secondary

    North Shields · NE29 7BU · North Tyneside

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.2
    • P80.2
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence8.6%

    1.4 miles away

  • Whitley Bay High School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Whitley Bay · NE25 9AS · North Tyneside

    Ages 13–18

    • Att856.3
    • P80.3
    • EM5+66%
    • Absence6.8%

    1.9 miles away

  • Churchill Academy

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Wallsend · NE28 7TN · North Tyneside

    Ages 11–18

    2.5 miles away

  • Churchill Community College

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Foundation school · Secondary

    Wallsend · NE28 7TN · North Tyneside

    Ages 11–18

    • Att839.5
    • P8-0.9
    • EM5+25%
    • Absence12.7%

    2.5 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Jonathan Heath
Telephone
01912961432
Website
http://www.johnspence.org.uk/

Official links