St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon
93%
Capacity
1,400
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon
St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon, sits comfortably above the Gateshead local authority average for secondary schools when it comes to academic progress. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.05 means its pupils achieve slightly better results than the national average, and notably outperforms the LA average of -0.14. This places the school third out of seven schools in the Gateshead area on this key metric, and within the top half nationally. It’s a solid, above-average performance that suggests the school is adding real value for its students, particularly given that 17.4% of its 1,400 pupils are eligible for free school meals. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 530 applications for 244 places, with 239 first-preference applications and 223 first-preference offers. That level of demand is a strong signal of its reputation among local families.
At GCSE, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 51.6, and 57.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 72.7%, though the proportion achieving the EBacc at grade 5 or above drops to 26.5%. In the sixth form, the school offers a solid academic experience: the average A-level points per entry is 35.17, equivalent to a B- grade, and the value added score is -0.05, which is rated as average. The best three A-levels average out at a B- grade. Ofsted visited in March 2023 and rated the school Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2013, but the inspection report notes the school continues to perform well.
Facilities are generous for a state secondary: there’s a swimming pool, gymnasium, sports hall, theatre, astro turf, and a dedicated sixth form centre. The school also has a chapel, reflecting its Roman Catholic character. SEND provision is broad, covering dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, and physical disability. Extracurricular options include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a range of sports from rowing to martial arts. This is a large, popular, and well-equipped school that suits families looking for a Catholic secondary with strong academic outcomes, a busy sixth form, and a wide range of activities. The oversubscription means early application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Croftdale Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Gateshead, NE21 4BQ |
| Headteacher | Jillian Turner |
| Local Authority | Gateshead |
| Number of Pupils | 1,400 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,400 / 1,509 (93% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.05)
1407th of 3,141
Nationally
44th of 142
In North East
3rd of 7
In Gateshead
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
44.1
'22/23
38.3
'23/24
35.2
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 245 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college38%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
96% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 129 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
23%
Russell Group
31%
Top-third HE
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)53%
- Employment20%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained9%
- Further education4%
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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Mathematics33
- Psychology27
- Physics23
- Biology20
- Geography20
- Religious Studies20
- Business Studies:Single16
- English Language16
- Chemistry15
- History13
- Art and Design (Fine Art)11
- English Literature11
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
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
2025/26Oversubscribed244
530
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
239 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% 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 half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British85.1%
- Mixed4.1%
- Asian3.4%
- White (other)3.3%
- Black0.6%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% 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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
5
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 Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon
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
Croftdale Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne
Gateshead, NE21 4BQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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