Most sought-after schools in Northumberland
Ordered by how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out.
This list is sorted by one number: first preferences per place. For each school it is the number of families who named it first, divided by the number of offers it made, in the newest year we hold. A higher number means more families wanted a place than there were places.
This is not a list of the best schools. It does not measure how good a school is, how happy the children are, or how well they do. It also does not tell you whether a child would get a place: that depends on where you live, the year, and the council's rules. It only shows how many people applied.
| # | School | First preferences per place | Newest intake | Latest Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Burnside Primary School Cramlington, primary |
1.27 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 2 |
Stannington First School Morpeth, primary |
1.24 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 3 |
Ponteland High School Ponteland, secondary |
1.23 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 4 |
NCEA Thomas Bewick C of E Primary School Ashington, primary |
1.21 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 5 |
Morpeth Stobhillgate First School Morpeth, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 6 |
New Hartley First School Whitley Bay, primary |
1.20 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 7 |
Bede Academy Blyth, all through |
1.18 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 8 | Ponteland Primary School | 1.17 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 9 |
Darras Hall Primary School Newcastle-upon-Tyne, primary |
1.14 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 10 |
Eastlea Primary School Cramlington, primary |
1.14 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 11 |
Beaconhill Community Primary School Cramlington, primary |
1.13 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 12 |
St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Ashington Ashington, primary |
1.10 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 13 |
NCEA Duke's Secondary School Ashington, secondary |
1.09 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 14 |
Heddon-on-the-Wall, St Andrew's Church of England Primary School Newcastle-upon-Tyne, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 15 |
Longhorsley St Helen's Church of England Aided First School Morpeth, primary |
1.07 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 16 |
Bedlington Academy Bedlington, secondary |
1.02 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 17 |
The Sele First School Hexham, primary |
1.02 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 18 |
Adderlane Academy Prudhoe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 19 |
Allendale Primary School Allendale, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 20 |
Amble Links Primary School Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 21 |
Beaufront First School Hexham, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Needs attention (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 22 |
Bedlington Station Primary School Bedlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 23 |
Bedlington Whitley Memorial Church of England Primary School Bedlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 24 |
Belford Primary School Belford, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 25 |
Berwick Academy Berwick-upon-Tweed, secondary |
1.00 | 2018 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 26 |
Berwick St Mary's Church of England Primary School Berwick-upon-Tweed, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 27 |
Broomhaugh (VA) Church of England First School Riding Mill, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 28 |
Broomley First School Stocksfield, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 29 |
Cambois Primary School Blyth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 30 |
Cramlington Shanklea Primary School Cramlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 31 |
Cramlington Village Primary School Cramlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 32 |
Felton Church of England Primary School Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 33 |
Haltwhistle Primary Academy Haltwhistle, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 34 |
Hipsburn Primary School Alnwick, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 35 |
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School Berwick-upon-Tweed, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 36 |
Holywell Village First School Whitley Bay, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 37 |
James Calvert Spence College Morpeth, secondary |
1.00 | 2016 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 38 |
King Edwin Primary School Amble, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 39 |
Malvin's Close Academy Blyth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 40 |
Meadowdale Academy Bedlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 41 |
Morpeth Road Academy Blyth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 42 |
NCEA Warkworth Church of England Primary School Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 43 |
NCEA William Leech CofE Primary School MORPETH, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 44 |
Newsham Primary School Blyth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 45 |
Ovingham Church of England First School Prudhoe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 46 |
Ponteland Community Primary School Newcastle-upon-Tyne, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 47 |
Prior Park Primary School Berwick-upon-Tweed, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 48 |
Prudhoe Castle First School Prudhoe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 49 |
Prudhoe West Academy Prudhoe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 50 |
Ringway Primary School Choppington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 51 |
Rothbury First School Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 52 |
Spittal Community Primary School Berwick-upon-Tweed, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 53 |
St Mary's Catholic First School, Hexham Hexham, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 54 |
St Matthew's Catholic Primary School, Prudhoe Prudhoe, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 55 |
St Paul's Catholic Primary School, Alnwick Alnwick, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 56 |
St Roberts Catholic First School, Morpeth Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 57 |
St Wilfrid's Catholic Primary School Blyth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Requires improvement (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 58 |
Stead Lane Primary School Bedlington, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 59 |
Swarland Primary School Morpeth, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 60 |
The King Edward VI School Morpeth, secondary |
1.00 | 2018 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 61 |
Tweedmouth West Primary School Berwick-upon-Tweed, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 62 |
Whittingham Church of England Primary School Alnwick, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 63 |
Wooler First School Wooler, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 64 |
Wylam First School Wylam, primary |
1.00 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 65 |
Cramlington Learning Village Cramlington, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Strong standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 66 |
St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy Bedlington, secondary |
0.99 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 67 |
Croftway Academy Blyth, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 68 |
Haydon Bridge High School Hexham, secondary |
0.98 | 2025 | Urgent improvement (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 69 |
NCEA Grace Darling CofE Primary School Newbiggin-By-the-Sea, primary |
0.98 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 70 |
Abbeyfields First School Morpeth, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 71 |
Bedlington West End Primary School Bedlington, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 72 |
Corbridge (VA) Church of England First School Corbridge, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 73 |
Grange View Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School Morpeth, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 74 |
Ss Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary Academy Cramlington, primary |
0.96 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 75 |
Cragside CofE Controlled Primary School Cramlington, primary |
0.95 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 76 |
Seaton Valley High School Seaton Delaval, secondary |
0.95 | 2018 | Some aspects not as strong (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 77 |
Horton Grange Primary School Blyth, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Outstanding (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 78 |
St Bede's Catholic Primary School Bedlington, primary |
0.94 | 2025 | Expected standard (Ofsted report card (current framework)) |
| 79 |
Ashington Academy Ashington, secondary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 80 |
Ellington Primary School Morpeth, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 81 |
Morpeth First School Morpeth, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 82 |
NCEA James Knott CofE Primary School Ashington, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 83 |
Seaton Delaval First School Whitley Bay, primary |
0.93 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 84 |
Mowbray Primary School Choppington, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 85 |
Seaton Sluice First School Whitley Bay, primary |
0.92 | 2025 | Not judged (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 86 |
New Delaval Primary School Blyth, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 87 |
Seghill First School Cramlington, primary |
0.89 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
| 88 |
Hareside Primary School Cramlington, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 89 |
Pegswood Primary School Morpeth, primary |
0.88 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 90 |
The Blyth Academy Blyth, secondary |
0.86 | 2025 | Standards maintained (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 91 |
Richard Coates Church of England Primary School Newcastle-upon-Tyne, primary |
0.85 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 92 |
Cramlington Northburn Primary School Cramlington, primary |
0.80 | 2025 | School remains Good (Ofsted ungraded inspection) |
| 93 |
NCEA Bishop's Primary School Ashington, primary |
0.79 | 2025 | Good (Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)) |
Figures from the Department for Education, applications and offers. 93 schools in Northumberland have a published per-place figure. Schools with too few places for the figure to mean anything are left off. All schools in Northumberland · How we compare schools.