St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon, Blaydon-on-Tyne

In its own words: "St Thomas More has a proud and long-established mission, rooted in Gospel Values and our commitment to educating the whole child. While we cherish our Catholic traditions, we also recognise the importance of preparing our pupils for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I hope it helps you discover something of who we are, what we do and what we stand for. St Thomas More is a school that is proud of its traditions and Catholic values. We believe strongly in the importance of collaboration and are proud to be part of the Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust."

In 2026, pupils at St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon averaged an Attainment 8 score of 52, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 48.3 in Gateshead and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in Gateshead and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 51.9.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.05: pupils made about 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 45.1, against 53.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 8.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and German.

For September 2026 entry, 263 families put St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon as their first choice and 604 named it as one of their preferences, for 244 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 32 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon are Excelsior Academy (1.6 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 34.4); Whickham School (2.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.2); Thorp Academy (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.8); and St Cuthbert's High School (2.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.9).

St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon 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 238 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 43% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 122 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 51% went on to university or other higher education, 13% to apprenticeships and 25% into work. 32% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 119 pupils (8.5%) received SEN support and 29 (2.1%) 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.

St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon had 112 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Blaydon Rail Station, about 800 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Back Lane-School (ne-bound), 40 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 91 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Gateshead (176).

In 2024/25, St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon issued 111 suspensions, 7.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon are St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Blaydon (under 0.1 miles); Blaydon West Primary School (0.3 miles); St Mary & St Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, Blaydon (0.7 miles); and Parkhead Community Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.