St Benedict's Catholic High School, Whitehaven
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St Benedict's creates a caring, supportive environment where pupils are polite, engaged and keen to learn. The school has significantly strengthened its curriculum and ensures all pupils develop secure knowledge in their subjects. Staff are well-supported, reading is prioritised across all subjects, and pupils benefit from excellent guidance on careers and their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Well-designed curriculum that has been substantially improved, particularly at key stage 3, with current pupils demonstrating secure knowledge across subjects
- Strong focus on reading across the curriculum with well-trained staff supporting pupils who struggle
- Excellent pupil behaviour and courtesy, with sixth-form students acting as strong role models
- Comprehensive careers guidance and world of work programme helping pupils make informed choices about their futures
- Effective identification and support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers do not always choose the most effective learning activities to help pupils remember and apply knowledge over time
- Adapted curriculum for a small number of pupils with SEND in some subjects is not ambitious enough, limiting their progress
- Low take-up of English Baccalaureate subjects, though the school is working to address this
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The school has created an open culture prioritising pupils' interests and ensures pupils learn about online safety, road safety and how to keep themselves safe.
Extracurricular Activities
School band, football club, orienteering events, gardening club, sporting competitions, science challenges, school trips locally and internationally, sixth-form leadership roles including reading support for younger pupils
St Benedict's Catholic High School has maintained the standards from its previous good rating. The school has redesigned its curriculum, resulting in improved quality of education for current pupils who display positive attitudes and engagement in learning.
At a Glance
31.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
66 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
19.1
Avg class size
47
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Latest from St Benedict's Catholic High School
From St Benedict's Catholic High School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
83%
Available places
990 pupils
1,194 capacity
204 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Whitehaven
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Whitehaven
Admissions Demand - Cumberland
Places available
3,150
Applications
2,811
Got 1st preference
97.2%
Got preferred school
99.4%
Secondary admissions across Cumberland (2025/26)
Inspection History(12)
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
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.
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.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.54072%
Overall absence
24.50111%
Persistent absence
902
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
St Benedict's Catholic High School
Jericho Primary School
Hensingham Primary School
St Gregory and St Patrick's Catholic Infant School
St Begh's Catholic Junior School
St James' CofE Junior School
St James' CofE Infant and Nursery School
Monkwray Junior School
Valley Primary School and Nursery
Moresby Primary School
Bransty Primary School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.