Catcote Academy, Hartlepool
Catcote Academy is a special school for pupils aged 11 to 19 in Hartlepool, part of Hartlepool Aspire Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Catcote Academy in detail
Catcote Academy in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "I am pleased, on behalf of the staff, students and trustees, to write these few words of welcome and an introduction to Catcote Academy which is a specialist provision providing education for 11-19-year-olds."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to Catcote Academy are Springwell School (1.3 miles); Hartlepool Free School (1.6 miles); Cambian Hartlepool School (1.6 miles, Good); and Wrenfield Learning Centre (1.8 miles, Good).
Springwell SchoolHartlepool Free SchoolCambian Hartlepool SchoolWrenfield Learning Centre
The trust
Catcote Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.
Where pupils go next
Of the 33 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 12% to a further education college.
Who goes there
63.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 2.1% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
Almost every pupil at Catcote Academy has an education, health and care plan (233 of 233 in 2026). The most common need among them is a moderate learning difficulty.
Catcote Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 235 places, 233 pupils on roll.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hartlepool Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Catcote Academy (a), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Catcote Academy stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 524 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Hartlepool (287), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Catcote Academy issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils, and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Catcote Academy excels at preparing pupils for life after school through real work experience and developing crucial independence skills. Staff genuinely care about each pupil's individual needs and support them to exceed high expectations. The school creates a safe, happy environment where pupils with diverse needs thrive and build strong friendships.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional careers and work experience programme with on-site opportunities and community placements - students build real employability skills
- Warm, welcoming environment where pupils feel supported and confident to take risks in their learning
- Exemplary behaviour supported by clear routines and a '4 Rs' approach (relate, regulate, reflect, repair) that helps pupils understand positive behaviour
- Tailored curriculum pathways closely matched to individual pupil needs and preparation for independent adult life
- Highly skilled staff who build strong relationships, explain concepts clearly and regularly check understanding
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils do not receive consistent enough support in phonics, which limits how quickly they learn to read and their confidence as readers
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with clear systems in place to keep pupils safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme, trashion show performances, on-site work experience in coffee shop and administration, community cafe and retail outlet work, work placements with local employers
Catcote Academy is a special school that has maintained good standards since its previous inspection. Pupils are happy, safe and thrive with strong support from a caring staff team.
At a Glance
63.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
SEN unit: Autism, MLD, SLD +1
SEN Provision
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with Catcote Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Catcote Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Catcote Academy is in Hartlepool; for families living there:
Apply to Hartlepool for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 7 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Hartlepool is 11 (the median across 43 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
233 pupils
235 places
2 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Hartlepool
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hartlepool
Across Hartlepool council
Places available
1,207
Applications
1,061
Got 1st preference
92.7%
Got preferred school
98.5%
All secondary applications across Hartlepool council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(4)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
233
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Catcote Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 235 places, 233 pupils on roll.
Source: GIAS, Department for Education.
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
233
Total Pupils
152
Boys
81
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
37
Teachers
6.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£57,135
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.1%
Overall absence
24.5%
Persistent absence
159
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Catcote Academy
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Catcote Academy
What is Catcote Academy's Ofsted rating?
Catcote Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Catcote Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Catcote Academy is oversubscribed, Hartlepool allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to Catcote Academy?
Catcote Academy has around 233 pupils on roll. 64% are eligible for free school meals.
Does Catcote Academy have specialist SEN provision?
Catcote Academy has a SEN unit for autism, moderate learning difficulties, severe learning difficulties and profound and multiple learning difficulties: 235 places, 233 pupils on roll.
What is attendance like at Catcote Academy?
8.1% of sessions were missed at Catcote Academy in 2024/25. 24.5% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Catcote Academy?
Apply through Hartlepool's coordinated admissions process, naming Catcote Academy on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Catcote Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 7 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Hartlepool is 11 (the median across 43 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Catcote Academy?
Catcote Academy is at Catcote Road, Hartlepool, TS25 4EZ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)