English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
About English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in January 2025, though the school was not judged on overall effectiveness in that visit. The single most telling exam metric is its Progress 8 score of -0.57, which places pupils’ academic progress well below the national average. This is slightly worse than the Hartlepool local authority average of -0.51, and ranks the school fourth out of five similar secondary schools in the area. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 42.4, and just 32.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs. On the positive side, 52.2% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects, and the sixth form provision was rated Good by inspectors, offering a brighter picture for post-16 study.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 149 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jan 2025From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 14:45
Source: ems.bhcet.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications