St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington, Washington

In its own words: "At Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, we recognise that each individual member of our community is created in God’s image with unique talents and abilities. We nurture each person through loving relationships and rich daily experiences centred on the teachings of Christ."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Robert of Newminster Sixth Form. Our Catholic inclusive Sixth Form receives students from across the North East for the high quality teaching on offer. The dedicated tutor team offers expert pastoral care and guidance throughout your time at St Roberts. Our aim is to ensure all students achieve their goals, applying to the best universities and apprenticeships."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include cooking and Duke of Edinburgh.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 3 December 2026 at 5pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.8, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 44.8 in Sunderland and 47 across England.

42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 46% in Sunderland and 47% in England.

That is down from 48.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.13: pupils made above 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 28.9, against 48.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Spanish.

For September 2026 entry, 230 families put St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington as their first choice and 462 named it as one of their preferences, for 209 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 Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington are Biddick Academy (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.2); Oxclose Community Academy (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.7); Washington Academy (1.5 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 41); and Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy (2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.2).

St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington is one of 47 schools run by Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.3 in 2024/25.

Of the 234 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 87% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college, 6% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 228 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 59% went on to university or other higher education, 12% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 27% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

16.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 5.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 210 pupils (13.8%) received SEN support and 27 (1.8%) 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 autism.

The nearest tram or metro stop is South Hylton (Tyne and Wear Metro Station), about 3.1 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Robert Of Newminster Catholic School (s-bound), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington 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 91 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sunderland (148).

In 2024/25, St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington issued 276 suspensions, 17.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to St Robert of Newminster Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Washington are Fatfield Academy (0.3 miles), Biddick Primary School (0.6 miles), John F Kennedy Primary School (0.8 miles) and Lambton Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.