St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy, Bradford

Good
Secondary
Academy converter
Mixed
Roman Catholic
Ages 1118

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~1.3km)Possible (~1.9km)Unlikely (~2.4km)Confidence: medium

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Lawrence Bentley
Pupils:1,800 / 1,950 capacity
LA:Bradford
Phone:01274941941
Website:sbsj.co.uk
Address:Highgate, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 4BQ
Trust:BLESSED CHRISTOPHER WHARTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Admissions:Non-selective
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2023

Ofsted Rating

Good

Overall

URN:148520
UKPRN:10088075
Diocese:Diocese of Leeds (rc)
Constituency:Bradford West
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

St Bede's and St Joseph's excels at creating an inclusive, caring community where every pupil is valued and supported to succeed. The school offers excellent academic provision, with particularly strong sixth form results that help students access competitive universities and prestigious apprenticeships. Beyond academics, the school prioritizes pupils' personal development through enriching activities, mentoring programs, and carefully planned career guidance from Year 7.

Key Strengths

  • Exceptional sixth form provision with impressive academic results and strong student engagement in critical thinking
  • Inclusive and supportive approach to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities who make excellent progress
  • Rich, balanced curriculum with effective teaching that helps pupils build knowledge progressively
  • Strong pastoral care, wellbeing support, and broad enrichment offer including clubs, trips, and peer mentoring
  • High staff morale with substantial professional development and collaborative leadership approach

Areas for Improvement

  • External exam results in Year 11 could improve, particularly for pupils with higher prior attainment
  • Curriculum not fully implemented as intended in a small number of lessons
  • Overall school attendance, while improving, could still be higher

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met with an open and positive culture where all legal requirements are fulfilled and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Clubs, trips, peer mentoring program, culture day events, school assemblies, employer-led events, workplace visits, counselling services

St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College is a Voluntary Academy with an inspiring sixth form and strong overall provision. The school creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where pupils from diverse backgrounds thrive academically and personally.

At a Glance

28.2%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

Yes

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Class Sizes

21.2

Avg class size

81

Total classes

12 classes with more than 30 pupils

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Highgate Quarry Street (opp)
58m · 1 min walk
Highgate Heaton Road (opp)
135m · 2 min walk
St Bedes Grammar (outside)
153m · 2 min walk
Leylands Lane Leylands Grove
189m · 3 min walk
Leylands Ln Garden Ln
233m · 4 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

92%

Near capacity

1,800 pupils

1,950 capacity

150 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Bradford

Low pressure
New homes approved:9,205
Projected new pupils:1,657

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Bradford

Admissions Demand - Bradford

Low demand1.05x oversubscription

Places available

7,315

Applications

7,685

Got 1st preference

77.4%

Got preferred school

93.7%

Secondary admissions across Bradford (2025/26)

Inspection History(102)

Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good
Date not published by Ofsted
Good

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SEN Provision

How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.

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Pupil Demographics

The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.

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Teachers & Staff

Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.99558%

Overall absence

24.21405%

Persistent absence

1,495

Enrolments

Authorised4.4131%
Unauthorised4.58248%
Persistent (10%+)24.21405%
Severe (50%+)3.74582%

Absence trend

9.9214%
23/24
8.99558%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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