Mark Gray has returned to the Middlesbrough school where he began his teaching career, pledging to restore its reputation and make it one of the North East’s leading schools.
A new headteacher has vowed to transform Nunthorpe Academy after returning to the school where he began his teaching career nearly 20 years ago.
Mark Gray, who grew up in Billingham, took charge of the Middlesbrough secondary school and sixth form at the end of the academic year.
He has pledged to make Nunthorpe one of the highest-performing schools in Teesside and the wider North East.
Mark first joined the school as a newly qualified PE teacher and remained there for nine years before moving into senior leadership roles at other schools across the region.
He became headteacher of Outwood Academy Acklam in 2020 and later spent four years leading North Durham Academy in Stanley.
Returning to Nunthorpe as headteacher is, he said, a long-held ambition.
“My first teaching job was here at Nunthorpe Academy, when I first qualified and joined as a PE teacher,” Mark said.
“Even then, having grown up nearby, I had a real affinity for the community.
“Whenever I thought about where I’d really love to end up, it was as headteacher at Nunthorpe. It’s been my dream to lead this school and sixth form.
“I don’t take the responsibility lightly. It’s a true privilege to be in this position.”
Mark acknowledged that the school’s reputation had declined in recent years but said significant progress had already been made since Nunthorpe joined Areté Learning Trust in 2025.
The school was rated Requires Improvement overall in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, although its sixth form provision was judged to be Good.
Mark said staff and leaders had worked hard over the past year to strengthen the school and rebuild confidence.
“It’s heartbreaking that this wonderful school got to that point, but we’ve already seen a big difference since the school joined Areté,” he said.
“There has been a huge amount of hard work from staff, leaders and interim headteacher Peter Wood to strengthen the foundations for the future.
“There is a growing sense of momentum across the school, and that means we are in a much stronger position to continue moving forward with the local community.
“Our students deserve to look back on their time here with fondness and feel proud that they attended Nunthorpe Academy.”
Mark McCandless, chief executive of Areté Learning Trust, said the school had made important progress and had the potential to become one of the region’s leading schools.
“Nunthorpe Academy is a school with enormous promise, rooted in a strong community and served by a committed and talented staff team,” he said.
“With Mark now leading the school, we have an exciting opportunity to build on that progress and realise our ambition for Nunthorpe to become one of the leading schools in the North East.”
