St Cuthbert's Catholic High School has closed (Monday 31 August 2026).
It became an academy, which has a new school record. The school at this address is now St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy.
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School, St Helens
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in St Helens. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 9th-highest of the 9 schools in St. Helens with published results, and 3,153rd of 3,298 across England. It was 96% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to St. Helens (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 8 Oct 2026
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School in detail
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School in its own words
On phones, the school says: "Mobile phones must be switched off throughout the day and not used to contact parents/carers without permission from a member of staff."
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 33.9, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.9 in St. Helens and 47 across England.
21% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 40% in St. Helens and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 34.5.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -1.11: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 24.3, against 41.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 17.6 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 18 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Religious Studies and Geography.
Getting a place at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
For September 2026 entry, 163 families put St Cuthbert's Catholic High School as their first choice and 291 named it as one of their preferences, for 175 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to St Cuthbert's Catholic High School are St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy (under 0.1 miles); St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy (1.1 miles, Attainment 8 45.1); The Sutton Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.5); and Outwood Academy Haydock (1.8 miles, Attainment 8 42.9).
Each of them had higher 2026 results than St Cuthbert's Catholic High School.
St Cuthbert's Catholic AcademySt Augustine of Canterbury Catholic AcademyThe Sutton AcademyOutwood Academy Haydock
Where pupils go next
Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 73% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 54% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.
Who goes there
47.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 213 pupils (23.7%) received SEN support and 36 (4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Helens Junction Rail Station, about 1100 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Meadow Lane (adjacent), 130 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Cuthbert's Catholic High School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 257 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in St. Helens (144), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Cuthbert's Catholic High School issued 236 suspensions, 26.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 5 permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from September 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's July 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Cuthbert's creates a welcoming, calm environment where all pupils - regardless of background - feel accepted and respected. Teachers use engaging teaching methods and have high expectations for both behaviour and achievement. The school provides excellent mental health and pastoral support through dedicated centres, and pupils develop important life skills through strong careers education and work experience.
Key Strengths
- Well-organised curriculum that is broad, balanced and ambitious across all year groups
- Strong focus on reading skills with effective support for pupils who need extra help
- Effective safeguarding arrangements with knowledgeable staff who identify and support vulnerable pupils
- Excellent pastoral support through The Farne Centre and The Melrose Centre to help pupils manage behaviour and mental health
- Inclusive approach ensuring pupils with SEND participate fully in school life and curriculum
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, teachers' assessment strategies do not effectively identify gaps in knowledge or pupil misconceptions
- Some pupils have limited understanding of different cultures, religions and communities beyond their own
- Need to improve curriculum opportunities to better prepare pupils for life in multicultural Britain
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders identifying and supporting vulnerable pupils quickly, staff being well-informed about local risks, and pupils receiving age-appropriate safety education.
Extracurricular Activities
Basketball, football, film and art clubs, sustainability group
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is a good school where pupils feel happy, safe and well cared for. The school provides a purposeful learning environment with high expectations for behaviour and academic success.
About
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic mixed secondary school situated in St Helens, Merseyside, England.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
47.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from -1.01 to -1.11 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 34.3 to 33.9 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has remained stable at around 21% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 33.9 | 21.4% |
| Disadvantaged(79) | - | 24.3 | 8.9% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(94) | - | 41.9 | 31.9% |
| Boys(82) | - | 31.0 | 15.9% |
| Girls(91) | - | 36.5 | 26.4% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(9) | - | 49.8 | 22.2% |
| Non mobile(165) | - | 34.6 | 21.8% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 179 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
5
Permanent exclusions
0.57%
Exclusion rate
236
Suspensions
26.94%
Suspension rate
96 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 876 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Cuthbert's Catholic High School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is in St. Helens; for families living there:
Apply to St. Helens for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
96%
Near capacity
883 pupils
920 places
37 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - St Helens
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Helens
Across St. Helens council
Places available
2,109
Applications
1,849
Got 1st preference
93.3%
Got preferred school
98.4%
All secondary applications across St. Helens council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(11)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
213
SEN Support
36
EHC Plans
27.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
897
Total Pupils
438
Boys
459
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
57
Teachers
15.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,141
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,882
Per pupil
£7551k
Total funding
£436k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
14.3%
Overall absence
38.3%
Persistent absence
915
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Cuthbert's Catholic High School
What are GCSE results like at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 33.9. 21% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is St Cuthbert's Catholic High School's Ofsted rating?
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
No fixed boundary. When St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is oversubscribed, St. Helens allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School was close to full in 2025, at 96% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
Classes at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School average 24.9 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School has around 897 pupils on roll. 48% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
14.3% of sessions were missed at St Cuthbert's Catholic High School in 2024/25. 38.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
Apply through St. Helens's coordinated admissions process, naming St Cuthbert's Catholic High School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
Where is St Cuthbert's Catholic High School?
St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is at Berrys Lane, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3HE.