Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #12 in Northumberland public Top 34% UK

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Kevin Shepherd

corporate_fareBISHOP BEWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST

location_onBedlington, NE22 6ED

language Visit Website phone 1670822795

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,117

trending_up

Attainment 8

41.3

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GCSE Rank

#12 in Northumberland

#2,360 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy is a Academy converter secondary school in Bedlington, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy is an academy converter in Bedlington, Northumberland, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of BISHOP BEWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST. The school has approximately 1,056 pupils on roll, of whom 31% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 41.3, placing the school #12 in Northumberland and #2,360 of 3,216 nationally. 31.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 11.8% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 18 A-level subjects. 41.3% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 14.8% at A*–A. A-level value added: -0.29 — students made below-average progress at sixth form.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.7× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 15.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 2 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.4 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

41.3

Grade 5+ E&M

31.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)11.8%

Entering EBacc10.70%

EBacc APS3.4

2024

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

44.7

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc20.40%

EBacc APS3.77

2023

Progress 8 Score

-0.13

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.0

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc26%

EBacc APS3.79

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc17%

EBacc APS4.08

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc13%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.14

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

45.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc19%

EBacc APS3.88

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.17

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS3.99

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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

94%

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

Apprenticeships5%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

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

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)80%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)9%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

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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

-0.29

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*1.3%

Achieving A*–A14.8%

Achieving A*–B41.3%

VA Banding Below average

Retention rate100.0%

A-level subjects offered18

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.3

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make below-expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate94.40%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

Retention rate98.00%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

Retention rate93.9%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

17 January 2023

Inspection Report

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16 March 2022

Inspection Report

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23 February 2021

Inspection Report

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05 March 2019

Inspection Report

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15 November 2016

Inspection Report

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04 March 2015

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-01-17

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2019-03-05

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-11-15

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-03-19

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

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

Suspension Rate

13.3%per term

warning Above Average

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

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.1%(64 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 1,054 pupils. During this period, there were 140 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 13.3%, which is above 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)	1,054	140	13.3%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,053	100	9.5%	7.8%	2
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,091	135	12.4%	7.4%	3
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,104	156	14.1%	7.1%	2
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,109	145	13.1%	8.2%	7
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,107	148	13.4%	6.6%	4
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,116	128	11.5%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,121	113	10.1%	5.9%	2
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,135	124	10.9%	4.7%	5
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,150	109	9.5%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,164	126	10.8%	4.4%	5
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,169	72	6.2%	3.6%	2
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,178	26	2.2%	1.0%	1
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,183	64	5.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,094	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,096	28	2.6%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,098	44	4.0%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,064	38	3.6%	3.1%	2
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,068	30	2.8%	3.8%	3
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,063	27	2.5%	3.8%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,056	17	1.6%	3.4%	4
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,062	19	1.8%	3.0%	1
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,081	27	2.5%	3.7%	6
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,025	12	1.2%	3.0%	3
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,036	8	0.8%	3.3%	2
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,042	21	2.0%	3.1%	1

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 67 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 41 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 30 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 18 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 15 pupils

Visual Impairment 3 pupils

Physical Disability 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 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.

71.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

80.0%Positive

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

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree22%

agree43%

disagree19%

strongly disagree9%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree16%

agree48%

disagree22%

strongly disagree9%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree19%

agree25%

disagree20%

strongly disagree13%

don't know4%

not applicable18%

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

yes15%

no85%

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

strongly agree14%

agree29%

disagree21%

strongly disagree21%

dont know14%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree31%

agree42%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know11%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree53%

disagree12%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree27%

agree39%

disagree26%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

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

strongly agree28%

agree51%

disagree18%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree33%

agree54%

disagree6%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree22%

agree32%

disagree16%

strongly disagree10%

don't know20%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes65%

no35%

Top Secondary Schools in Northumberland

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Ponteland High School

Good

location_on Ponteland, NE20 9EG

emoji_events #1 in LA

The King Edward VI School

Outstanding

location_on Morpeth, NE61 1DN

emoji_events #2 in LA

Queen Elizabeth High School

Good

location_on Hexham, NE46 3JB

emoji_events #3 in LA

The Blyth Academy

Good

location_on Blyth, NE24 4JP

emoji_events #4 in LA

Bede Academy

Good

location_on Blyth, NE24 2SY

emoji_events #5 in LA

Ashington Academy

Good

location_on Ashington, NE63 8DH

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Northumberland 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 Northumberland

Ponteland High School

The King Edward VI School

Queen Elizabeth High School

The Blyth Academy

Bede Academy

Ashington Academy