St Wilfrid's RC College
92%
Capacity
1,338
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About St Wilfrid's RC College
St Wilfrid's RC College sits third out of nine secondary schools in South Tyneside on Progress 8, with a score of -0.27. That puts it comfortably above the local authority average of -0.35, meaning pupils here make more academic progress than the typical student in the borough. It's a meaningful gap, and it places the school ahead of neighbours like St Joseph's Catholic Academy (-0.29) and Jarrow School (-0.16), though still behind Whitburn Church of England Academy (-0.11). The school is oversubscribed — 363 applications for 214 places in 2025/26, with 166 first-preference offers — which suggests local families see value in what's on offer. That said, the most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2025 rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, with behaviour and attitudes, leadership and management, and quality of education all marked at that level. The sixth form, however, was judged Good, and personal development also came out as Good.
At KS4, the school's Attainment 8 score is 48.1, and 46.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score is 4.41, with 68.9% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Progress 8 is below average nationally, but the school's ranking in the bottom 50% of all schools (2168th out of 3141) reflects a similar pattern to many in the North East. In the sixth form, the picture is mixed: the value added score is -0.17, classed as below average, and the average points per entry is 30.58 (a C grade). Only 5% of A-level entries achieved AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged a C grade. Parent opinion is divided — 49% would recommend the school, 51% would not. On behaviour, only 41% of parents agreed the school ensures good behaviour, while 54% disagreed.
The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for ages 11-19, with a capacity of 1450 and currently 1338 pupils on roll. It has a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a chapel, and a sixth form centre. Sports offered include rowing, martial arts, and netball, and clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to gardening and film club. SEND provision covers autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support — though 47% of parents disagreed that SEND children get the support they need. With 31.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake. It will suit families who prioritise a Catholic ethos and a broad range of activities, but who are prepared for a school that is still working through significant Ofsted-identified weaknesses in leadership and behaviour.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Temple Park Road, South Shields, South Tyneside, NE34 0QA |
| Headteacher | Catherine Lennox |
| Local Authority | South Tyneside |
| Number of Pupils | 1,338 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 31.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,338 / 1,450 (92% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Apr 2025Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.27)
2168th of 3,141
Nationally
81st of 142
In North East
3rd of 8
In South Tyneside
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
40.1
'22/23
35.4
'23/24
30.6
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
2022/2339%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 184 pupils).
- FE college42%
- School sixth form (stay)39%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment4%
92% 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
2022/2359%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 66 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
29%
Russell Group
30%
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)59%
- Employment21%
- Apprenticeship9%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education5%
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- Psychology20
- Mathematics19
- Chemistry16
- English Language15
- Biology13
- English Literature11
- Computer Studies / Computing9
- History8
- Physics8
- Geography7
- Religious Studies7
- Art and Design (Photography)5
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.
Ofsted Parent View
255 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed214
363
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
166 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:40 – 15:15
Breakfast club
08:15-08:40
Source: st-wilfrids.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British78.9%
- Asian8.4%
- Mixed3.6%
- White (other)2.4%
- Black0.3%
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.
75% 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.
13
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
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 Wilfrid's RC 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Temple Park Road, South Shields
South Tyneside, NE34 0QA
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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