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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Needs attentionURN 133768

Lift Unity City

Academy sponsor led · Middlesbrough · TS3 8RE

Ages 11–16 · 1,033 pupils · Middlesbrough

School website

Ofsted

Needs attention

Attainment 8

31.8

Overall absence

14.6%

Admissions demand

0.93 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Needs attention

Inspection date

2026-04-21

  • AchievementNeeds attention
  • Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
  • InclusionExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Leadership and governanceExpected standard

Safeguarding standards: Met

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.87
−20+2
Attainment 831.8
English & maths grade 5+18%
English & maths grade 4+38%
EBacc entry22%

EBacc APS: 2.5

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence14.6%
Persistent absence (10%+)42.4%
Unauthorised10.2%
Authorised absence
4.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
9.7%
Enrolments in measure
1,065

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

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

0.93 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

203

Places offered

249

1st-preference offers

203

Total preferences (any rank)
319
Preferred offers (top 3)
219
Applications from outside LA
8
Offers to outside-LA applicants
3
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 fill98%

1,033 pupils · 1,050 places

Pupils on roll
1,033
Boys / girls
545 / 488
School capacity
1,050
Capacity fill
1,033 / 1,050 (98%)
Free school meals
72%
FSM pupils
744
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy sponsor led

Age range

Ages 11–16

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

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

School characteristics

Governance
Academy trust: LIFT SCHOOLS
Academy trust
LIFT SCHOOLS
Sponsor
Lift Schools
Headteacher
Mrs Jill Gray

Location

Address
Ormesby Road
Postcode
TS3 8RE
Town
Middlesbrough
Local authority
Middlesbrough
District
Middlesbrough
Constituency
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
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
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 sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, 1,033 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 72%. SEN provision includes: MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty.

Open schools in Middlesbrough
89
Secondary schools in Middlesbrough
11
Academies among open schools in Middlesbrough
73% (65)
Open schools in TS3
20
Secondary in TS3
2
Open schools in Middlesbrough LA
65
Secondary in Middlesbrough LA
8

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 MiddlesbroughNear TS3

  • Outwood Academy Ormesby

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS3 0RH · Middlesbrough

    Ages 11–16

    • Att831.3
    • P8-1.1
    • EM5+27%
    • Absence19.5%

    0.9 miles away

  • Trinity Catholic College

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS4 3JW · Middlesbrough

    Ages 11–19

    • Att838.1
    • P8-0.7
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.5 miles away

  • Outwood Academy Normanby

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS6 9AG · Redcar and Cleveland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att834.7
    • P8-1.3
    • EM5+31%
    • Absence13.4%

    1.6 miles away

  • St Peter's Catholic College

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS6 6SP · Redcar and Cleveland

    Ages 11–16

    • Att842.1
    • P8-0.5
    • EM5+43%
    • Absence9.6%

    1.7 miles away

  • Outwood Academy Riverside

    Ofsted: Good

    Free schools · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS1 2AD · Middlesbrough

    Ages 11–16

    • Absence10.5%
    • FSM64.0%
    • Demand0.93

    1.7 miles away

  • Outwood Academy Acklam

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS5 7JY · Middlesbrough

    Ages 11–16

    • Att841.3
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+41%
    • Absence9.6%

    2.1 miles away

  • Nunthorpe School & Sixth Form

    Ofsted: Requires improvement

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS7 0LA · Redcar and Cleveland

    Ages 11–18

    • Att845.8
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+45%
    • Absence10.7%

    2.2 miles away

  • The King's Academy

    Ofsted: Needs attention

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Middlesbrough · TS8 0GA · Middlesbrough

    Ages 11–18

    • Att841.5
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence12.9%

    2.4 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Jill Gray
Telephone
01642326262
Website
https://sites.google.com/aetinet.org/unity-city-academy/home

Official links