Benfield SchoolWalker Riverside Academy
Inspection, results, pupils and attendance side by side in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Summary of the comparison
Benfield School and Walker Riverside Academy are secondary schools in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Benfield School scores 30 out of 100 (grade F, weak) and Walker Riverside Academy scores 40 out of 100 (grade D, below average). Walker Riverside Academy is ahead on our composite score.
Benfield School was judged in need of attention and Walker Riverside Academy was judged the expected standard.
On GCSE Attainment 8, the latest published figures are 31.8 for Benfield School and 37.1 for Walker Riverside Academy.
GCSE Attainment 8 has fallen at Benfield School (37.1 in 2021-22, 31.8 in 2025-26) and has fallen at Walker Riverside Academy (39.6 in 2021-22, 37.1 in 2025-26).
Side-by-side comparison
| Measure | Newcastle-upon-TyneBenfield School | Newcastle-upon-TyneWalker Riverside Academy | England average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Our score | F30/100 | D40/100Stronger figure | |
| Local ranking | 16th of 17 in Newcastle upon Tyne | 11th of 17 in Newcastle upon Tyne Stronger figure | |
| Inspection | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Ofsted: GoodStronger figure | |
| School type | Academy converter | Academy converter | |
| Phase | Secondary | Secondary | |
| Age range | 11-16 | 11-18 | |
| Gender | Mixed | Mixed | |
| Pupils on roll | 819 | 1,101 | |
| Capacity | 1,035 | 1,301 | |
| Location | Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 4NU | Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 4AW | |
| GCSE results | |||
| Attainment 8 | 31.8 | 37.1 Stronger figure | 46.2 |
| Grade 5+ in English & maths | 24.3% | 29.7% Stronger figure | 46.3% |
| Grade 4+ in English & maths | 41.1% | 44.8% Stronger figure | 64.8% |
| Cohort | 185 | 212 | |
| A-level results | |||
| A-level entries | 14 2022-23 | Not reported2024-25 | |
| A-level average points | 20.3 2022-23 · England 34.2 | Not reported2024-25 | |
| A-level average grade | D 2022-23 | Not reported2024-25 | |
| Best 3 A-levels points | 21.5 2022-23 · England 34.7 | Not reported2024-25 | |
| AAB+ incl. facilitating subjects | 0.0% 2022-23 · England 15.8% | Not reported2024-25 | |
| Pupils | |||
| Pupils in the census | 920 | 1,123 | |
| Free school meals (ever 6) | 68.3% | 68.1% | |
| English as an additional language | 37.6% | 16.7% | |
| SEN support | 17.8% | 18.9% | |
| SEN with an EHC plan | 5.8% | 3.6% | |
| Attendance | |||
| Overall absence | 14.3% | 12.1% Stronger figure | 6.2% |
| Persistent absence | 37.2% | 31.8% Stronger figure | 15.8% |
marks the stronger figure on measures with a clear direction. Rows describing a school's intake, such as free school meals, English as an additional language and SEN, carry no marker: they describe who a school serves, not how well it serves them.
Historical trends
Each solid line is one school; the dashed line is the national average.
GCSE Attainment 8
GCSE Progress 8
Overall absence
Free school meal eligibility (ever 6)
Pupils on roll
Ethnicity over time
One panel per school: the largest groups across this comparison, one colour per group, on a shared scale.
Benfield School
Walker Riverside Academy
Full profiles: Benfield School · Walker Riverside Academy