School profile

Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Secondary · Academy converter · Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE4 9YH

Outstanding

Map showing Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#758 of 3,312

Better than 77% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#993 of 2,536

Better than 60% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Sacred Heart Catholic High School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 3 Dec 2024

Area360 rating
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,424
GenderGirls
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Suzanne Howell
TrustBISHOP BEWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityNewcastle upon Tyne
Opened01 Dec 2011
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137708.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolNewcastle upon TyneEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.51.8, better than England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne43.846.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.72.6%, better than England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne61.4%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.54.9%, better than England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne45.2%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.15%, similar to England, similar to Newcastle upon Tyne14%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths69.5%, better than England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne56%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4226--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolNewcastle upon TyneEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.35.4, similar to England, similar to Newcastle upon Tyne33.4835
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels36.14, similar to England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne33.4635.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better12%, worse than England, similar to Newcastle upon Tyne12%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.2, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study135--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Dist---

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,424
Girls1,424
Boys0
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.39.8%
First language not English26.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,385
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25260
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.211
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.32
Average class size20.2

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
46.6%
African
11.5%
Pakistani
6.5%
Other White
4.7%
Other Asian
4.6%
Indian
4.2%
Other mixed
3.6%
Other Black
3.4%
Bangladeshi
3.2%
Other ethnic group
3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.1
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.3
Teachers (FTE)94.34
Teaching assistants (FTE)19.45
Support staff (FTE)53.74
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2596
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2586.6
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/254
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255.4

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.225
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.575
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.322
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.210
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)15

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolNewcastle upon TyneEngland
Overall absence8.6%, worse than England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne9.3%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.21.1%, similar to England, better than Newcastle upon Tyne23.9%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.3%, worse than England, similar to Newcastle upon Tyne4.8%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate13.5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions5.4%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.96.4%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.94.1%
School sixth form64.9%
Further education28.4%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.7%
Apprenticeship1.8%
Sixth form college0.9%
Employment0.5%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.93.8%
Higher education77.5%
Employment10.1%
Apprenticeship3.9%
Further education2.3%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.3%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Sacred Heart Catholic High School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimarySacred Heart Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.3 miNot applicableDame Allan's SchoolsOther independent school
Unrated
0.5 miPrimaryWingrove Primary SchoolFoundation school
Good
0.5 mi16 plusTrinity Solutions AcademyAcademy 16-19 converter
Unrated
0.5 miPrimaryEnglish Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, FenhamAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryStocksfield Avenue Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryCanning Street Primary SchoolFoundation school
Good
0.7 miSecondarySt Cuthbert's High SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.8 miPrimaryThomas Walling Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.9 miPrimaryAtkinson Road Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about Sacred Heart Catholic High School

What is Sacred Heart Catholic High School's Ofsted rating?

Sacred Heart Catholic High School is rated Outstanding, last inspected on 3 Dec 2024. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does Sacred Heart Catholic High School rank in England?

Sacred Heart Catholic High School ranks 758 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 77% of schools) and 993 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 60% of schools).

What are Sacred Heart Catholic High School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 54.9% of pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic High School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 51.8 (England 46.2).

What are Sacred Heart Catholic High School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Sacred Heart Catholic High School was B-, and 12% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Sacred Heart Catholic High School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Sacred Heart Catholic High School made 225 offers from 575 applications (2.6 per offer), and 210 of 322 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Sacred Heart Catholic High School?

Sacred Heart Catholic High School has 1,424 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Sacred Heart Catholic High School?

Sacred Heart Catholic High School had 1,385 school places in 2024/25.

Does Sacred Heart Catholic High School have a sixth form?

Yes, Sacred Heart Catholic High School has a sixth form with 260 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Sacred Heart Catholic High School?

At Sacred Heart Catholic High School, the average class had 20.2 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.1 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Sacred Heart Catholic High School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic High School missed 8.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 21.1% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.