Valley Gardens Middle School
Foundation middle deemed secondary school in Whitley Bay (North Tyneside).
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
Valley Gardens is a large middle school in the heart of the Whitley Bay community. With over 770 pupils, we are bigger than many secondary schools. The school has always been a popular school which is oversubscribed each year. In 2016, the school exceeded its Pupil Admission Number to accommodate more pupils who wished to attend.
Valley Gardens is a school with high attainment, significantly in excess of the national averages. Alongside academic success, the school is well known for its incredible range of extra curricular opportunities which adds to its appeal. We have a long and proud history of sporting success in local, regional and national competitions in a range of sports.
We have individual pupils who have gone on to represent their country in their chosen sports and those who have gone on to enjoy fame and fortune as successful professionals in different walks of life.
In the school’s own words, from the school website.
Enrichment
7 activitiesiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- School Trips High Borrans
- Ski Trip Austria
- Skiing in France
- York
- Hawse End
- France - Football and Culture
- Metacognition
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- ArtsmarkArts and culture
Key facts
- URN
- 108636
- Type
- Foundation school
- Phase
- Middle deemed secondary
- Ages
- 9 to 13
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- North Tyneside
- Constituency
- Tynemouth
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Governing body (11 current, 2 former)
iMaintained school governing body (trust-linked).Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr David Nisbet | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Alex Tait | Governor | Appointed by LA | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Victoria Anderson | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Sharen Bell | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Louisa Staerck | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Ellie Roberts | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr James MacLeod | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2022 · until 2030 |
| Mr Sean Burnside | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2022 · until 2030 |
| Mr Jonathan Russell Thompson | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2021 · until 2029 |
| Mrs Lynn Johnson | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2019 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr David Godfrey | Governor | Appointed by GB/board | since 2016 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Dan Brady Former | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2023 · term ended 2026 |
| Mrs Karen Burgess Former | Governor | Parent appointed by GB/board due to no election candidates | since 2022 · term ended 2026 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record