Trinity Catholic College
87%
Capacity
1,303
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About Trinity Catholic College
Trinity Catholic College’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 did not award an overall effectiveness grade, but the individual judgements tell a story of significant improvement. The school was previously rated Requires Improvement across all areas, yet the latest visit saw leadership, behaviour, personal development and the sixth form all judged Good. The quality of education remains Requires Improvement, which aligns with the headline exam metric: a Progress 8 score of -0.73. That places the school fifth out of seven mainstream secondaries in Middlesbrough, and in the bottom half nationally. It is worth noting that the local authority average Progress 8 is -0.45, so Trinity’s score is below the Middlesbrough norm. However, the school’s Attainment 8 figure of 38.1 and the fact that 51.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths suggest a solid foundation that the new leadership team is now building on.
At A-level, the sixth form is a relative bright spot. The value-added score of -0.74 is described as well below average, but the average grade for best three A-levels is a C, with a points-per-entry grade of C- and an average points-per-entry of 25.19. The proportion of students achieving AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects is 14.3%. In the most recent Ofsted inspection, the sixth form provision was rated Good, which suggests that post-16 students are getting a better deal than the key stage 4 cohort. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 34.3%, and the EBacc average point score is 3.27. For context, the school ranks 119th out of 142 secondaries in the North East region by Progress 8, and 2875th nationally out of 3141. The parent view, based on 55 responses, shows 73% would recommend the school, and strong majorities agree or strongly agree that their child is happy and does well.
Trinity Catholic College is a mixed 11-19 state secondary in Middlesbrough with a Roman Catholic character, led by headteacher Michael Burns. It has capacity for 1500 pupils and currently has 1303 on roll, with 43.6% eligible for free school meals. The school was oversubscribed for 2025/26 entry, receiving 445 applications for 233 places, with 178 first-preference offers made. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, science labs, library, sixth form centre and chapel. The school offers a wide range of sports and clubs, from rugby and cricket to Model UN and orchestra. SEND provision covers nine areas including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that has been through a difficult patch academically but is now showing clear signs of improvement in behaviour, leadership and sixth form quality. It will suit families who value a strong Catholic ethos and want a school that is actively turning things around, particularly for post-16 students.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 19 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Lacy Road, Middlesbrough, Middlesbrough, TS4 3JW |
| Headteacher | Michael Burns |
| Local Authority | Middlesbrough |
| Number of Pupils | 1,303 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 43.6% |
| School Capacity | 1,303 / 1,500 (87% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 18 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.73)
2875th of 3,141
Nationally
119th of 142
In North East
5th of 7
In Middlesbrough
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
28.3
'22/23
23.0
'23/24
25.2
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
2022/2332%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 231 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)32%
- FE college32%
- Not sustained13%
- Employment11%
- Sixth form college7%
- Apprenticeship3%
85% 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
2022/2361%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 72 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
3%
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)61%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained10%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Further education3%
- Other 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Biology12
- English Language12
- Sociology12
- Mathematics11
- Chemistry9
- English Literature7
- Law6
- Geography4
- Business Studies:Single3
- Religious Studies3
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
55 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
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed233
445
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
178 families put this school as their 1st choice (40% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 14:35
Source: trinity.npcat.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British72.5%
- Asian5.2%
- Mixed4.7%
- White (other)4.1%
- Black1.2%
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.
10
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
7
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 Trinity Catholic 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
Lacy Road, Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough, TS4 3JW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Trinity Catholic College!
Write a Review