Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
102%
Capacity
1,496
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead was judged Outstanding in every category by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in May 2024, a rating it has now held across two consecutive inspections. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.71 is the strongest in Gateshead, placing it first among seven local secondary schools and well above the national average. This metric, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, puts Cardinal Hume in the top nine per cent of schools nationally. The school also ranks fifth out of 142 secondaries across the North East region, making it a clear academic standout in the area.
At GCSE, 84.6 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and nearly 60 per cent reached the higher grade 5 benchmark. The Attainment 8 score sits at 54.4, and the average EBacc APS is 5.01, reflecting strong performance across a broad academic curriculum. More than two-thirds of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate suite of subjects, and 54.9 per cent achieved the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, students achieved an average of a B grade per A-level entry, with 32.5 per cent earning at least ABB in two facilitating subjects. The sixth form value-added score is -0.08, which is rated as average, meaning students generally achieve in line with expectations given their prior attainment.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 253 places in Year 7, there were 758 applications, with 361 naming Cardinal Hume as their first preference. It has a large roll of 1,496 pupils, slightly above its official capacity. Facilities include a chapel, sixth form centre, astro turf, sports hall, tennis courts, and art studios. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. With a Roman Catholic character and a strong academic record, this is a school that suits families who value high standards and a structured, faith-based environment, particularly those living within the Gateshead area who can secure a place in a competitive admissions process.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Old Durham Road, Gateshead, Gateshead, NE9 6RZ |
| Headteacher | B Robson |
| Local Authority | Gateshead |
| Number of Pupils | 1,496 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,496 / 1,465 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 8 Jul 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.71)
276th of 3,141
Nationally
5th of 142
In North East
1st of 7
In Gateshead
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
41.6
'22/23
35.8
'23/24
38.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2352%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 238 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)52%
- FE college34%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment3%
94% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2366%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 112 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
28%
Russell Group
29%
Top-third HE
2%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)66%
- Employment13%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education2%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics36
- Geography27
- Chemistry22
- Business Studies:Single20
- Biology16
- English Literature15
- History14
- Government and Politics13
- English Language10
- Physics10
- French8
- Art and Design (Fine Art)7
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed253
758
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
361 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British76.3%
- White (other)7.0%
- Asian3.1%
- Mixed2.2%
- Black1.0%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Old Durham Road, Gateshead
Gateshead, NE9 6RZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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