General Information
School Location
Kingsmeadow School opened on 1st September 1990 on the site of the former Dunston Comprehensive School following the amalgamation of three schools. The school is situated approximately four miles west of Gateshead Town Centre on the western edge of Dunston and is accessible from the nearby road network off the Gateshead Western Bypass. In close proximity to the school is the MetroCentre.
The School
Kingsmeadow School is a co-educational 11-18 school. We work in partnership with Gateshead College to provide post 16 education through the Central Gateshead Partnership (CG:6). The school provides an excellent range of vocational opportunities for students of all abilities. We have developed strong and successful links with local employers, community groups and Gateshead College. The school has a capacity for 900 students and there are currently 750 students on roll. The students are mainly drawn from the inner urban areas of Gateshead, Dunston and Lobley Hill. The school serves a varied catchment area of private and council housing in which the full range of ability and a wide range of social backgrounds are represented.
PFI New School Build
A new school has been built on site. The first phase of the new building opened in April 2007. This houses the majority of subject areas. Phase 2 was completed in August 2008 and Phase 3 in 2009.
We have:
- Science – 6 Laboratories
- Technology – 2 Food, 1 Product Design, 1 Graphics, 1 Textiles room
- Art – 1 dedicated Art room
- ICT – 4 dedicated spaces and an Innovation, Creativity and Enterprise Room
General classrooms for Maths (5), English (6), RE (2), MFL (3), Geography (3), History (2)- PE sports hall and fitness area. Outdoor facilities include 3 pitches and a MUGA.
- Drama – 2 specialist teaching rooms
- Business Studies – 2 specialist rooms and a conference area
- Music a specialist teaching room and 1 practise and 1 ensemble room, studio facilities for recording
- Learning Support has a dedicated area, the Learning Zone offers facilities for personalised learning
Our ICT service is managed by 2e2. A base line for the delivery of student ICT capability through subjects has been established and a plan to develop capability across the curriculum has been drawn up.
We have developed post 16 provision as part of the Central Gateshead Sixth Form (CG:6) our provision is "outstanding". We offer a range of A Levels and vocational courses for post 16 students. "Arrangements for transition into post 16 education are particularly effective" (Ofsted 2010)"
Almost one hundred students continue their Level 3 (AS, A2 and BTEC) studies in Business Studies, English, Geography, History, ICT, Physical Education and Science at Kingsmeadow with teachers they have known since Year 7. We have also developed a successful Level 2 course in Work Skills.
A 1.2 million Lifelong Learning Centre was opened in 2002 and this provides a base for sixth form students, community education and activities, early years provision and the Children’s Centre.
Along with the new build, these developments will further enhance opportunities for young people and make Kingsmeadow an exciting place to be at this time.
School Ethos and Organisation
The governing body of the school is supportive and highly committed. Under its guidance the school is given encouragement to be innovative. The corporate vision of the staff team is one of enthusiastic, hard working and committed professionalism with students at the centre of all activities of the school. Academic organisation is based on departments and supported by a Key stage system. A strong emphasis is placed on recognition of student achievement. The school is a caring and inclusive organisation that seeks to maximise the potential of each student. In November 2009 we were awarded the Inclusion Quality Mark for the second time recognising our good practice in this area.
OfSTED Report
The school was inspected in March 2010 we were judged to be good with outstanding features. A copy of the full OfSTED report can be found on 
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/.
Community Links
The school greatly values its links with the community. It has a strong association with local churches and has a commitment to the continued development of industrial links and values its close relationship with local firms. The school has also established close links with nearby Beacon and Specialist Schools. Feeder primary school relationships have always been good and are now further strengthened through the work of the EIP Cluster that is led by Kingsmeadow. Kingsmeadow is the nominated Full Service School for Gateshead and as such has enhanced community provision and services.
