School profile

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Bedlington, NE22 6ED

Good

Map showing St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#2,069 of 3,312

Worse than 62% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#1,529 of 2,536

Worse than 60% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 17 Jan 2023

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

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils994
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMrs Suzanne Lewis-Dale
TrustBISHOP BEWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Local authorityNorthumberland
Opened01 Mar 2015
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 141814.

GCSE results

2025/26

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

MeasureThis schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.43.6, worse than England, similar to Northumberland42.846.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.58.6%, worse than England, similar to Northumberland61%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.34.5%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland41.8%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.7.5%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland10.6%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths54%, worse than England, similar to Northumberland56.3%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4174--

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 schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.32, worse than England, worse than Northumberland34.2235
Average A-level gradeC+--
Average points, best three A-levels33.25, worse than England, worse than Northumberland35.635.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better12.2%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland17.1%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.29, worse than England--
A-level progressBelow average, worse than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study75--
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 pupils994
Girls542
Boys452
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.30.3%
First language not English6.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,436
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.30.8%
Sixth form places2024/25180
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.146
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.23
Average class size20

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
83.5%
African
2.8%
White and Asian
2.1%
Indian
2.1%
Other Asian
2.1%
Other White
1.8%
Other ethnic group
1.6%
Other mixed
0.9%
Gypsy/Roma
0.7%
White and Black African
0.5%

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 teacher15.7
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.4
Teachers (FTE)63.23
Teaching assistants (FTE)12.95
Support staff (FTE)43.39
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2567.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2562.2
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/253.2

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.134
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.199
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.128
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.128
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)2
Offers made (Year 9)2018/19Places offered on national offer day.62
Applications (Year 9)2018/19Includes every preference parents listed.91
First preference applications (Year 9)2018/19Families who put this school as their first choice.58
First preference offers (Year 9)2018/19First-choice applicants who were offered a place.58
Applications from another local authority (Year 9)2018/195

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 schoolNorthumberlandEngland
Overall absence10.6%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland8.5%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.29%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland21.7%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.6.9%, worse than England, worse than Northumberland3.7%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 rate29.5%
Pupils with one or more suspensions9.8%
Permanent exclusion rate0.6%
Permanent exclusions6

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.91%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.86.1%
Further education51.7%
School sixth form33.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.6.5%
Apprenticeship4.5%
Employment0.5%
Sixth form college0%

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.94.9%
Higher education62.8%
Employment17.9%
Apprenticeship12.8%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.1%
Further education0%

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 St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.1 miPrimarySt Bede's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.1 miPrimaryBedlington West End Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.2 miPrimaryMeadowdale AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryBedlington Whitley Memorial Church of England Primary SchoolVoluntary aided school
Requires improvement
1.2 miPrimaryStead Lane Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.4 miPrimaryChoppington Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.6 miPrimaryBedlington Station Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.7 miSecondaryBedlington AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good

Frequently asked questions about St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy

What is St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 17 Jan 2023.

How does St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy rank in England?

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy ranks 2,069 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (worse than 62% of schools) and 1,529 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 60% of schools).

What are St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 34.5% of pupils at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 43.6 (England 46.2).

What are St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy was C+, and 12.2% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy made 134 offers from 199 applications (1.5 per offer), and 128 of 128 first-preference applicants got a place. For Year 9 entry in 2018/19, it made 62 offers from 91 applications (1.5 per offer), and 58 of 58 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy?

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy has 994 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy?

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy had 1,436 school places in 2024/25.

Does St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy have a sixth form?

Yes, St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy has a sixth form with 180 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy?

At St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy, the average class had 20 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 15.7 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy?

In 2025/26, pupils at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy missed 10.6% of sessions (England 8%), and 29% 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.