English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College
89%
Capacity
1,472
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
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.
At A-level, the school’s value added score is -0.07, which is classed as average, and students achieved an average of 33.6 points per entry, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels averaged 33.17 points, also a C+. Ofsted’s breakdown shows that while the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management all require improvement, personal development and sixth form provision are both rated Good. Parent views are mixed: 48% would recommend the school, and 64% agree or strongly agree their child is happy. However, only 46% feel concerns are dealt with properly, and just 38% agree bullying is handled effectively. The school has a high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 34.2%, and 28% of parents who responded have a child with SEND.
The school is heavily oversubscribed, with 569 applications for 249 places in 2025/26, and 225 first-preference offers made from 229 first-preference applications. Facilities include a sixth form centre, science labs, a theatre, chapel, astro turf, and tennis courts. Sports on offer include football, rugby, cricket, and gymnastics, while clubs range from chess and choir to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and debate. SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a large Roman Catholic secondary with a strong faith character, serving a diverse intake. It may suit families who value the sixth form’s Good rating and the breadth of extracurricular activities, but those prioritising strong academic progress or a consistently positive behaviour culture may want to look more closely at the Ofsted findings and parent feedback.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Catcote Road, Hartlepool, Hartlepool, TS25 4HA |
| Headteacher | Andy Rodgers |
| Local Authority | Hartlepool |
| Number of Pupils | 1,472 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 34.2% |
| School Capacity | 1,472 / 1,647 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Jan 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.57)
2697th of 3,141
Nationally
113th of 142
In North East
4th of 5
In Hartlepool
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly less 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
35.1
'22/23
31.8
'23/24
33.6
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
2022/2330%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 242 pupils).
- FE college61%
- School sixth form (stay)30%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
- Employment1%
96% 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
2022/2354%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 104 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
22%
Top-third HE
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)54%
- Employment24%
- Not sustained12%
- Further education6%
- Apprenticeship2%
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- Psychology34
- History26
- Biology18
- Law17
- Art and Design (Photography)16
- Chemistry14
- Mathematics12
- Geography11
- Business Studies:Single9
- Computer Studies / Computing8
- Religious Studies7
- English Language6
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.
Ofsted Parent View
149 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
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.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed249
569
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
229 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 14:45
Source: ems.bhcet.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.0%
- Asian5.1%
- White (other)2.9%
- Mixed2.0%
- Black0.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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.
9
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
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.
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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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Catcote Road, Hartlepool
Hartlepool, TS25 4HA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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