St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College
About St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College
St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College in County Durham holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it maintained following an ungraded inspection in 2024. The school's most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.16, which places pupils' progress well above the local authority average of -0.21. This positive score means that, on average, students at St John's achieve nearly a fifth of a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than pupils in similar schools nationally. The school ranks 10th out of 31 secondary schools in County Durham on this measure, putting it in the top third locally and in the top 40 per cent nationally. Its Attainment 8 score sits at 50.6, and 56 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths — a strong benchmark for a school where just over a quarter of students are eligible for free school meals.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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
9 May 2024Latest monitoring visit (9 May 2024): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 4 Mar 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St John's Catholic School & 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