St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon, Blaydon-on-Tyne
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Blaydon-on-Tyne, part of Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 5 schools in Blaydon-on-Tyne with published results, and 474th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Gateshead (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon in detail
Results
In 2025, 93% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon reached the expected standard in reading and 97% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 79% and 79% in Gateshead and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 100% in reading and 100% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon as their first choice and 60 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon are Crookhill Community Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 87% maths); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blaydon (0.8 miles, Good, 75% reading, 84% maths); Blaydon West Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 90% reading, 87% maths); and Lemington Riverside Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 61% reading, 57% maths).
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Crookhill Community Primary SchoolSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, BlaydonBlaydon West Primary SchoolLemington Riverside Primary School
The trust
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 75% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (75%).
Who goes there
7.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 2.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 15 pupils (6.4%) received SEN support and 1 (0.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Blaydon Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Stella Rc Primary School (n-bound), 20 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 104 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon are St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon (0.7 miles); and Thorp Academy (1.6 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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 · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2022. Before that, as St Mary and St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School (URN 108392), it was rated Outstanding in October 2007.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School are extremely happy, confident and articulate members of the school family. They have every opportunity to blossom and thrive in a remarkable, nurturing environment. A sense of care and mutual respect is at the core of everything the school does. Relationships are warm and highly positive. Pupils understand and follow the school's 'back pocket principles' of being ready, respectful and responsible.
The school has incredibly high aspirations and expectations for every pupil. Talented and well-trained staff ensure all pupils have every chance to succeed. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve exceptionally well.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
Early years staff immerse children in rhyme, story and song within an exceptional curriculum. Adults model adventurous language and vocabulary extremely well. This helps pupils develop their communication skills. Children quickly build secure knowledge and skills through high-quality provision. Skilled adults guide children through their learning and play. They ensure that all children benefit from the superb provision on offer. A very effective approach to early reading ensures that pupils quickly develop the phonics knowledge they need for key stage 1. Nothing is left to chance. As a result, children are very well prepared for the next stage of their education. Pupils in key stage 1 build systematically on their existing phonics knowledge. They develop into fluent, confident readers.
Highly trained and knowledgeable staff teach the curriculums in school with notable expertise. They identify individual pupils' needs and put highly effective support in place. All pupils achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum, including those with SEND.
From Ofsted's October 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
At a Glance
7.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
34 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 100% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 97% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 93% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.8
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
31.0
KS2
8
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon, with their latest published grades:
- Crookhill Early Years - Day nursery, 0.5 milesOfsted, 18 January 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Sammy Bear Day Care Limited - Day nursery, 0.8 milesOfsted report card, 30 July 2026: Strong standard in 1 area, Expected standard in 5 areas; safeguarding standards met
- Your Co-op Little Pioneers Nursery and Pre-School, Newburn - Day nursery, 0.9 milesOfsted report card, 18 May 2026: Expected standard in 6 areas; safeguarding standards met
- The Lemington Centre Pre-School - Pre-school, 1.0 milesOfsted, 17 July 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
- Blaydon Childcare - Day nursery, 1.2 milesOfsted, 10 November 2023: Good overall; safeguarding is effective
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon is in Gateshead; for families living there:
Apply to Gateshead for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight.
2 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
Will you get a place at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
For 2026 entry it had 24 first choices for 25 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
212 pupils
204 places
8 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Gateshead council
Places available
2,494
Applications
1,785
Got 1st preference
98.1%
Got preferred school
99.8%
All primary applications across Gateshead council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the West CT & STM 1 Primary planning area (Gateshead) will have 1,034 spare primary places in 2027/28.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
6.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
234
Total Pupils
127
Boys
107
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
19.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,674
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£1136k
Total funding
£18k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.8%
Overall absence
3.2%
Persistent absence
185
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
Questions parents ask about St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon
What are SATs results like at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
Of the pupils at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 93% reached the expected standard in reading and 97% did so in maths.
What is St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon's Ofsted rating?
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2022. Before that, as St Mary and St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School (URN 108392), it was rated Outstanding in October 2007.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon was full in 2025, at 104% of its 204 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
Classes at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon average 28.8 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils.
How many pupils go to St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon has around 234 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
2.8% of sessions were missed at St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon in 2024/25. 3.2% of pupils were persistently absent.
How many road collisions happen near St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 4 slight. 2 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 Gateshead is 11 (the median across 93 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon?
St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon is at Stella Lane, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE21 4NE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)