[1] The new Josephine Butler Campus was handed over to the academy by Kier Construction and Northumberland County Council on 2 March 2012,[2] moving secondary, primary and special needs students into one building with the exception of the Thomas Bewick, William Leech, Grace Darling and James Knott campuses, which will stay at their current location.

The Centre [Special Educational Needs unit] includes the SEN pupils from Abbeyfields First School in Morpeth which is also located in the Josephine Butler Campus.

This became an 11–19 mixed ability, secondary school with sixth form – it has separate governance and structures.

The curriculum complies with the statutory obligations to provide courses in National Curriculum subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, History, World Studies (Geography) French, Healthy Living (DT), ICT, Art, Music, Drama and P.E., together with Religious Education.

[9] The government promotes EBacc subjects as a way to create an academic core curriculum in Key Stage 4.

[b] The Duke's Secondary School provides a broad and balanced curriculum to meet the needs and aspirations of all pupils.

[10] There are a number of elements of the Key Stage 4 curriculum that are core provision, but do not lead to external accreditation.