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Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YHSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Dec 2024
Progress 8
+0.54
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
342 1st-choice / 253 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#464 of 3,141 nationally

About Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Sacred Heart Catholic High School is a girls’ secondary school in Newcastle upon Tyne that is heavily oversubscribed, a clear signal of its local reputation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 610 applications for 253 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.41, with 342 of those applications listing it as a first preference. It currently has 1,392 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,405, so it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 37.5%, which is significantly above the national average and reflects the school’s inclusive intake within the local authority. As a Roman Catholic school, it serves a specific faith community, though its admissions criteria will also consider other applicants. The school is one of only two in Newcastle upon Tyne rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its headteacher is Suzanne Howell.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressFenham Hall Drive, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 9YH
HeadteacherSuzanne Howell
Local AuthorityNewcastle upon Tyne
Number of Pupils1,392
Free School Meals (FSM)37.5%
School Capacity1,392 / 1,405 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 92 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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

3 Dec 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 15 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Tennis CourtsLibrarySwimming PoolAstro TurfTheatreDining HallSports HallChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RugbySwimmingCricketMartial ArtsFootballBasketball

Clubs & Activities

OrchestraChoirGardeningNewspaperDebateChessYoung EnterpriseEco ClubModel United Nations

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:25

Source: sacredheart-high.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Sacred Heart Catholic High School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.