[2] The Grangefield Academy has extensive school fields, adjacent to the town ring road and opposite the Stockton Cricket Club Ground.

[3] The now-demolished attractive and substantial main buildings of the old Grammar Schools that stood on the site dated from the early 1950s.

The original brick, sandstone and Cumberland slate buildings faced out over the playing fields and were constructed around four well-planted quadrangles that provided a distinctive learning environment.

[citation needed] Before the transition to academy status many areas of the school were refurbished; an extension for the Design and Technology block was completed in 2005.

[citation needed] Following an Ofsted inspection in December 2012, the school was placed in "Special Measures" under the Education Act 2005 because it was failing to provide an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing and governing the school were not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvements in the inadequate achievements of pupils, quality of teaching, standards of behaviour, and managerial leadership.