St Mary's Catholic School
105%
Capacity
1,459
Pupils
4.4x
Demand
About St Mary's Catholic School
St Mary's Catholic School stands out sharply against the Newcastle upon Tyne local authority average for secondary schools. Its Progress 8 score of 0.56 is nearly a full grade higher than the LA average of -0.4, placing the school second out of 19 similar schools in the area and in the top 25% nationally. This is a school where pupils make significantly more academic progress than their peers across the city, and the gap is wide enough to be meaningful for any parent comparing options. The school is also one of only two schools in the local authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, a rating it has held across both its most recent graded inspection in 2023 and its previous inspection in 2009. With 1,459 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,395, it is clearly a popular choice, and the oversubscription figures back that up: for 2025/26 entry, the school received 995 applications for 225 places, with 406 of those as first preferences.
At Key Stage 4, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 55.9, and 82.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score of 5.16 is solid, and 56.4% of pupils entered the EBacc suite of subjects. Breaking down Progress 8 by subject area, the strongest progress is in the EBacc subjects (0.74), followed by English (0.54) and maths (0.45). At Key Stage 5, the picture is more mixed: the sixth form’s value-added score is -0.09, which falls within the ‘Average’ band, and the average points per entry of 39.21 equates to a B grade. Just under 30% of A-level entries achieved an AAB or higher. The school ranks 2nd in the LA for Progress 8, behind Gosforth Junior High Academy, and 9th in the North East region out of 142 schools.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth form centre, astro turf, and art studios, and runs clubs such as Young Enterprise, Drama, and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Its SEND provision covers nine categories, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Speech, Language & Communication needs, and Physical Disability. With an oversubscription ratio of 4.42 and 221 first-preference offers made from 406 first-preference applications, securing a place is competitive. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong academic progress and a Catholic ethos, and who are comfortable with a large, popular secondary that is clearly in high demand across the city.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Benton Park Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7PE |
| Headteacher | Emma Patterson |
| Local Authority | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Number of Pupils | 1,459 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,459 / 1,395 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.56)
415th of 3,141
Nationally
9th of 142
In North East
2nd of 11
In Newcastle upon Tyne
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more 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
40.6
'22/23
37.4
'23/24
39.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2373%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 144 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
42%
Russell Group
44%
Top-third HE
4%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)73%
- Not sustained9%
- Employment8%
- Other education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed225
995
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
406 families put this school as their 1st choice (41% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British63.1%
- Asian9.3%
- White (other)8.6%
- Mixed5.2%
- Black1.9%
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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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
8
Oversubscribed
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Mary's Catholic School
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
Benton Park Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7PE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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