St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Westerhope

About St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Westerhope

St Mark’s Catholic Primary School in Westerhope is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 3 to 11, and it is currently running above its official capacity. With 224 pupils on roll against a capacity of 216, the school is clearly in demand locally. That demand is backed up by the admissions data for the 2025/26 intake: 30 places attracted 58 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.93, and 35 of those applications were first-preference choices. The school’s intake also reflects a significant level of disadvantage — 37.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average for primary schools (typically around 23-24%). This suggests St Mark’s serves a community with higher-than-average economic need, and the school’s Catholic character may be a draw for families seeking a faith-based education in the Newcastle upon Tyne area. The nursery provision means children can join from age 3, which may help with early integration into the school community.

Academically, St Mark’s delivers solid but not outstanding results. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — exactly in line with the Newcastle upon Tyne local authority average of 63%. The school’s ranking of 27th out of 55 primaries in the LA places it in the middle of the pack, and nationally it sits around the 50th percentile. Individual subject scores show reading and maths both averaging 106, with 67% reaching the expected standard in each. Higher-standard attainment is modest: 10% achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, though 23% hit the higher standard in reading and writing individually, and 20% in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection (an ungraded visit in February 2024) confirmed it remains Good overall, with notable strengths: leadership and management were rated Outstanding, and early years provision was judged Outstanding — a significant improvement from the previous inspection in 2014, when early years was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a practical, well-resourced environment for its pupils. Facilities include an outdoor playground, gymnasium, dining hall, art studios and a chapel, reflecting its Catholic identity. Sports provision covers swimming, rounders, football, dance and athletics, while clubs extend to science, coding, chess, choir, film and gardening — a decent range for a primary of this size. SEND support is a clear priority, with provisions listed for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering St Mark’s, the oversubscription picture is important: with 58 applications for 30 places, securing a spot is competitive, and the school’s Catholic character will likely be a factor in admissions criteria. It suits families who value a faith-based setting, strong early years and leadership, and a school that serves a diverse socioeconomic intake without being among the top academic performers in the LA.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Mark's Catholic Primary School, Westerhope

Helpful Guides for Parents