St Joseph's Catholic Academy

About St Joseph's Catholic Academy

St Joseph’s Catholic Academy is a large secondary school in South Tyneside, currently educating 1,357 pupils against a capacity of 1,490, so there is some headroom but not much. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 19.9%, which is notably higher than the national average of around 23% and reflects the school’s role in serving a community with above-average deprivation. Demand is strong: for entry in 2025/26, the school received 400 applications for 245 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.63. Of those, 254 were first-preference applications, and 238 first-preference offers were made, meaning the school is comfortably oversubscribed but not wildly so. As a Roman Catholic state school, its intake is shaped by faith-based admissions criteria, though the school is mixed and open to pupils of all abilities. The headteacher, James Crowe, leads a school that has grown significantly in size, and the pupil count suggests it is a popular choice among local families, particularly those seeking a Catholic secondary with a sixth form attached.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This represents a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when overall effectiveness was judged as Requires Improvement. At Key Stage 4, the school’s Progress 8 score is -0.29, which is below the national average of 0 but above the South Tyneside local authority average of -0.35. This places St Joseph’s 4th out of 8 schools in the LA on this measure, and in the bottom 50% nationally. Attainment 8 sits at 44.3, and 69.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 48%, with 26% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value added score is -0.4, classed as below average, with an average point per entry of 28.81 (a C grade). The best three A-levels average out at a C+ grade, and 17.4% of entries were at AAB or higher.

The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, music rooms, art studios, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. It offers a wide range of extracurricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model United Nations, Young Enterprise, and a school newspaper. For pupils with additional needs, the school provides support for a broad spectrum of SEND, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and physical disabilities. Given its oversubscribed status, families applying should be aware of the faith-based criteria and the need to apply early. This school will suit families who want a large, Catholic secondary with strong facilities and a sixth form, and who are comfortable with academic outcomes that are broadly in line with or slightly above the local average, but below national benchmarks. Its improvement trajectory under the current leadership is a positive signal.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Joseph's Catholic Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents