St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Hebburn

In its own words: "At St Joseph's we believe that education is about teaching children the knowledge, skills, and values that they will require to be effective life-long learners."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Joseph's Catholic Academy. We are proud to be part of the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust and serve the communities of South Tyneside and East Gateshead."

In 2026, pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 43.4 in South Tyneside and 47 across England.

37% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 39% in South Tyneside and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 45.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.29: pupils made 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 36.5, against 47.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 261 families put St Joseph's Catholic Academy as their first choice and 409 named it as one of their preferences, for 246 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 28 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to St Joseph's Catholic Academy are Hebburn Comprehensive School (0.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 42); Heworth Grange School (1.4 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.9); Jarrow School (1.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.7); and Walker Riverside Academy (1.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 37.1).

St Joseph's Catholic Academy's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

St Joseph's Catholic Academy is one of 31 schools run by Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.1 in 2024/25.

Of the 223 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 77% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college, 14% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 90 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 62% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 18% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

3.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 225 pupils (16.3%) received SEN support and 27 (2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Pelaw (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Joseph's Catholic Academy (n-bound), 90 metres away.

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Academy issued 203 suspensions, 15 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 10 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Academy are Toner Avenue Primary School (0.2 miles); Bill Quay Primary School (0.6 miles); St James' Catholic Primary School, Hebburn (0.7 miles); and Hebburn Lakes Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.