Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Popular emoji_events #17 in County Durham public Top 24% UK

St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester

verifiedData: DfE & Ofsted 2024/25

personMrs Catherine Hammill

corporate_fareBISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST

location_onDurham, DH7 0RD

language Visit Website phone 1207520424

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,375

trending_up

Attainment 8

44.9

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GCSE Rank

#19 in County Durham

#1,752 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester is a Academy converter secondary school in Durham, serving ages 11-18. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Demand is above capacity (1.1×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester is an academy converter in Durham, County Durham, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BISHOP WILKINSON CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,258 pupils on roll, of whom 20% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 44.9, placing the school #19 in County Durham and #1,752 of 3,216 nationally. 42.40% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 13.5% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 44.5% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 20.0% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.14 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.1× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 7.9 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: Department for Education 2024/25, Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

44.9

Grade 5+ E&M

42.40%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)13.5%

Entering EBacc51.30%

EBacc APS4.07

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.22

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc58.80%

EBacc APS4.6

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.04

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc59%

EBacc APS4.51

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

52.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc58%

EBacc APS4.73

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc46%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

0.12

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.2

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc66%

EBacc APS4.52

2018

Progress 8 Score

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

50.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc60%

EBacc APS4.47

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)84%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships7%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships5%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships4%

EmploymentSP%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

-0.14

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*5.8%

Achieving A*–A20.0%

Achieving A*–B44.5%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate89.1%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.12

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.50%

2023

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate95.60%

2022

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Retention rate98.6%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

21 March 2023

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-03-21

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Good

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2009-01-22

S5 Inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2006-05-24

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

6.4%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

3.7%(47 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,258 pupils. During this period, there were 80 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 6.4%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,258	80	6.4%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,263	118	9.3%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,305	84	6.4%	7.4%	2
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,315	66	5.0%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,326	70	5.3%	8.2%	5
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,367	58	4.2%	6.6%	3
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,375	68	4.9%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,388	120	8.6%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,425	95	6.7%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,433	96	6.7%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,443	44	3.0%	4.4%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,397	35	2.5%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,399	8	0.6%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,397	35	2.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,371	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,371	32	2.3%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,383	39	2.8%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,381	38	2.8%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,385	42	3.0%	3.8%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,390	45	3.2%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,363	47	3.4%	3.4%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,370	40	2.9%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,377	51	3.7%	3.7%	0
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,361	26	1.9%	3.0%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,371	30	2.2%	3.3%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,381	40	2.9%	3.1%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 50 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 31 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 26 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 21 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 8 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 6 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

62.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

63.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree10%

agree32%

disagree30%

strongly disagree23%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree12%

agree40%

disagree31%

strongly disagree14%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree15%

agree26%

disagree20%

strongly disagree20%

don't know3%

not applicable16%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree10%

agree18%

disagree22%

strongly disagree43%

dont know6%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree22%

agree43%

disagree18%

strongly disagree7%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree48%

disagree21%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree15%

agree47%

disagree22%

strongly disagree15%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree18%

agree60%

disagree13%

strongly disagree4%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree15%

agree45%

disagree14%

strongly disagree11%

don't know15%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree12%

agree24%

disagree24%

strongly disagree24%

don't know15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes48%

no52%

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Requires improvement

location_on Durham, DH1 4NG

emoji_events #1 in LA

Tanfield School

Inadequate

location_on Stanley, DH9 8AY

emoji_events #2 in LA

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Outstanding

location_on Durham, DH1 4SU

emoji_events #3 in LA

Belmont Community School

Good

location_on Durham, DH1 2AG

emoji_events #4 in LA

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Outstanding

location_on Peterlee, SR8 1AU

emoji_events #5 in LA

Easington Academy

Good

location_on Peterlee, SR8 3AY

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in County Durham arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in County Durham

St Leonard's Catholic School, Durham

Tanfield School

Durham Johnston Comprehensive School

Belmont Community School

The Academy at Shotton Hall

Easington Academy