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OpenSecondaryOfsted: Standards maintainedURN 112398

St Benedict's Catholic High School

Voluntary aided school · Whitehaven · CA28 8UG

Ages 11–18 · 990 pupils · Cumberland

School website

Ofsted

Standards maintained

Attainment 8

42.6

Overall absence

8.5%

Admissions demand

0.92 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Standards maintained

Inspection date

2025-07-02

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

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

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.29
−20+2
Attainment 842.6
English & maths grade 5+30%
English & maths grade 4+55%
EBacc entry16%

EBacc APS: 3.6

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

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

Overall absence8.5%
Persistent absence (10%+)27.3%
Unauthorised2.1%
Authorised absence
6.3%
Severe absence (50%+)
2.7%
Enrolments in measure
927

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

0.92 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

156

Places offered

177

1st-preference offers

156

Total preferences (any rank)
318
Preferred offers (top 3)
169
Applications from outside LA
0
Offers to outside-LA applicants
0
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 fill83%

990 pupils · 1,194 places

Pupils on roll
990
Boys / girls
494 / 496
School capacity
1,194
Capacity fill
990 / 1,194 (83%)
Free school meals
31.6%
FSM pupils
283
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

1 / 6

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

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Lancaster
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mrs Emma Jackson

Location

Address
Red Lonning, Hensingham
Postcode
CA28 8UG
Town
Whitehaven
County
Cumbria
Local authority
Cumberland
District
Cumberland
Constituency
Whitehaven and Workington
Urban/rural
Urban: Further from 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 voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Whitehaven, Cumberland, 990 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 31.6%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Lancaster.

Open schools in Whitehaven
17
Secondary schools in Whitehaven
2
Academies among open schools in Whitehaven
12% (2)
Open schools in CA28
17
Secondary in CA28
2
Open schools in Cumberland LA
181
Secondary in Cumberland LA
19

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 WhitehavenNear CA28

  • The Whitehaven Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Whitehaven · CA28 8TY · Cumberland

    Ages 11–18

    • Att841.7
    • P8-0.2
    • EM5+39%
    • Absence8.4%

    0.3 miles away

  • Mayfield School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Community special school

    Whitehaven · CA28 8UG · Cumberland

    Ages 3–19

    • KS20%
    • Absence9.1%
    • FSM47.9%

    0.2 miles away

  • Jericho Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Community school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 6UX · Cumberland

    Ages 4–11

    • KS289%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM10.5%
    • Demand1.00

    0.3 miles away

  • Hensingham Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 8QZ · Cumberland

    Ages 3–11

    • KS240%
    • Absence6.8%
    • FSM30.0%
    • Demand1.00

    0.5 miles away

  • St Begh's Catholic Junior School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7TE · Cumberland

    Ages 7–11

    • KS245%
    • Absence5.7%
    • FSM35.4%

    0.9 miles away

  • St James' CofE Junior School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7HG · Cumberland

    Ages 7–11

    • KS275%
    • Absence3.7%
    • FSM14.1%

    1.0 miles away

  • St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School

    Ofsted: School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

    Voluntary controlled school · Primary

    Whitehaven · CA28 7PZ · Cumberland

    Ages 3–7

    • Absence3.5%
    • FSM12.5%
    • Demand0.95

    1.1 miles away

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

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Emma Jackson
Telephone
01946692275
Website
http://st-benedicts.cumbria.sch.uk/

Official links