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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 148304

St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College

Academy converter · Peterlee · SR8 1DE

Ages 11–18 · 891 pupils · County Durham

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

44.0

Overall absence

10.7%

Admissions demand

0.97 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2023-07-27

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.22
−20+2
Attainment 844.0
English & maths grade 5+41%
English & maths grade 4+66%
EBacc entry37%

EBacc APS: 3.9

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence10.7%
Persistent absence (10%+)35.9%
Unauthorised4.6%
Authorised absence
6.1%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.7%
Enrolments in measure
939

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

0.97 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

151

Places offered

156

1st-preference offers

150

Total preferences (any rank)
296
Preferred offers (top 3)
156
Applications from outside LA
5
Offers to outside-LA applicants
1
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill81%

891 pupils · 1,100 places

Pupils on roll
891
Boys / girls
499 / 392
School capacity
1,100
Capacity fill
891 / 1,100 (81%)
Free school meals
39.1%
FSM pupils
321
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: BISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Academy trust
BISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
Sponsor
Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
Headteacher
Mrs Frances Cessford

Location

Address
Westway
Postcode
SR8 1DE
Town
Peterlee
County
County Durham
Local authority
County Durham
District
County Durham
Constituency
Easington
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Peterlee, County Durham, 891 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 39.1%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.

Open schools in Peterlee
21
Secondary schools in Peterlee
4
Academies among open schools in Peterlee
48% (10)
Open schools in SR8
23
Secondary in SR8
4
Open schools in County Durham LA
281
Secondary in County Durham LA
30

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in PeterleeNear SR8

  • The Academy at Shotton Hall

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Peterlee · SR8 1AU · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att851.7
    • P80.6
    • EM5+50%
    • Absence9.0%

    0.6 miles away

  • Dene Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Peterlee · SR8 5RL · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att840.2
    • P80.3
    • EM5+29%
    • Absence12.3%

    1.2 miles away

  • Easington Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Peterlee · SR8 3AY · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att849.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+55%
    • Absence9.8%

    1.7 miles away

  • Wellfield School

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Wingate · TS28 5AX · County Durham

    Ages 11–16

    • Att848.9
    • P80.3
    • EM5+53%
    • Absence12.7%

    2.1 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Frances Cessford
Telephone
01915876220
Website
https://www.st-bedes.org/

Official links