St Thomas More Catholic High School
North Shields, NE29 8LF · North Tyneside · secondary school
Check the area around this school
4th of 12 secondary schools in North Tyneside we can score, 16 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.6/10 against 840 of them, against 6.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 49.6 · 61 | 30% | 1.84 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.21 · 65 | 25% | 1.63 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.8 · 64 | 10% | 0.64 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Thomas More Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 46.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 49.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 stood at +0.21 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,660 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,650. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
With a 2023 inspection date, how has the curriculum evolved since that visit? How does the school support pupils in raising their Progress 8 scores further?
What Ofsted said about St Thomas More Catholic High School
Overview
St Thomas More Catholic High School is described as a place of "warmth and friendliness" where pupils are treated as individuals within a "kind and inclusive atmosphere." The report highlights an "ambitious" curriculum and strong pastoral care, noting that most pupils feel safe and that bullying is rare.
Strengths
- "Pastoral support and care" is a particular strength, with staff knowing pupils well and providing valued academic and personal guidance.
- The curriculum is "ambitious for all pupils," including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), with clear subject knowledge structures.
- Teaching staff are "enthusiastic and knowledgeable," routinely using retrieval activities to help pupils remember important information.
- Reading is "prioritised across the school," with effective interventions for pupils with dyslexia or those struggling with pronunciation.
- The sixth form is "very successful," with students achieving well and being "well prepared for their next steps."
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure all teachers use consistent approaches to involve all pupils, particularly disadvantaged ones, in lessons to maximise engagement.
- Leaders need to ensure more pupils, including sixth-form students, access extra-curricular provision and work experience opportunities to develop talents beyond the academic curriculum.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective" and that safeguarding is "a strength of the school," with staff sharing responsibility for keeping pupils safe.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49.2 |
| 2024/25 | 49.6 |
| 2025/26 | 48.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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