Introduction

• Blakeston is a five form, mixed 11-16 co-educational comprehensive school. It was formed in 1973 and serves a catchment area to the north west of Stockton-­on­-Tees, England, comprising of both council and private housing estates.
• The school is pleasantly situated with a rural aspect to the north and the Stockton suburban area to the south. Pupils are attracted from six primary schools, including the William Cassidi School in the village of Stillington, and in recent years a number of 'extra district' pupils have chosen to come to Blakeston. 
• The school consists of five separate buildings situated closely together and next to extensive playing fields.
• Situated close to the County Durham boundary, the school has easy access via the A19 and the A66 to the North Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, Northumberland, the Lake District and the Cleveland Coast. 
• A programme of Personal, Health and Social Education has been developed within the school and great importance is given to the development of the pupil both academically and socially, as a responsible, contributing member of society. There is one lesson of P.H.S.E. each week. Each member of the Senior Team is allocated to one of the year teams.

Curricular Organisation

Academic  

• There is the opportunity for the core subjects to set their groups in Year 9 in order to prepare for Key Stage Three testing
• In Years 10 and 11 students are offered G.C.S.E., NVQ, BTEC and Nationals courses and although some mixed ability grouping still occurs, further setting is offered to ensure that each student's potential can be reached.
• Blakeston is justly proud of its curricular achievements and this was recognised through winning the Schools Curriculum Award. The school participates in the National Record of Achievement Scheme and is able to reflect positively on good results in public examinations.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• The school has its own extensive playing fields and an all weather playing surface. This facility and the other specialist resource areas combine with a tremendous staff commitment to provide a strong tradition of extra curricular activities; particularly in sport, and in residential education.
• Blakeston has won an award as the top school between the Humber & the Tweed rivers for 'Britain in Bloom'. The award was achieved by work from our groundstaff in conjunction with our pupils.

Community

• Blakeston is fully committed to playing a leading role in its community. It has developed and fostered good links with local groups and businesses and this has led to curriculum enrichment and additional resourcing.

Governing Body

• The Governing Body plays a full and active part in the life of Blakeston. Governors are frequently to be seen in and around the school, not only attending the termly Governors' Meeting and the regular sub-committee meetings, but also helping in departments and with school trips.