Academy converter · Gateshead

St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon

11–18Ages
1,401Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
137851URN

Croftdale Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne, NE21 4BQ · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.5per place

0.2 above Gateshead median (2.3)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Gateshead

604 applications for 244 places · 3rd of 8 in Gateshead

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

52.0of 90

Gateshead 48.4 England 46.0

2nd of 9 in Gateshead

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 1 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.5applications per place, Year 7

0.2 above Gateshead median (2.3) 0.3 above England median (2.2)

604 applications · 244 places offered · 263 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.5; Gateshead median median 2.3
2025 2.2; Gateshead median median 2.2
2024 2.1; Gateshead median median 2.1
2023 2.2; Gateshead median median 2.2
2022 2.0; Gateshead median median 2.0
2021 2.3; Gateshead median median 2.0
2020 2.1; Gateshead median median 2.1
2019 2.3; Gateshead median median 2.2
2018 2.2; Gateshead median median 1.7
2017 1.9; Gateshead median median 1.7
2016 2.1; Gateshead median median 1.9
2015 2.1; Gateshead median median 1.7
2014 2.1; Gateshead median median 1.9

This school
Gateshead median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	244	604	2.5	263	1.08
Sep 2025	244	530	2.2	239	0.98
Sep 2024	244	512	2.1	236	0.97
Sep 2023	238	527	2.2	230	0.97
Sep 2022	245	499	2.0	246	1.00
Sep 2021	245	565	2.3	300	1.22
Sep 2020	248	519	2.1	263	1.06
Sep 2019	242	561	2.3	296	1.22
Sep 2018	209	463	2.2	253	1.21
Sep 2017	219	425	1.9	275	1.26
Sep 2016	216	446	2.1	258	1.19
Sep 2015	203	420	2.1	248	1.22
Sep 2014	207	426	2.1	268	1.29

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

235 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)52.02nd of 9 in Gateshead

Gateshead 48.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths53%4th of 9 in Gateshead

Gateshead 52% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths73%

Gateshead 73% England 66%

This school
Gateshead median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.05

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	235	52.0	53%	73%	–
2024/25	230	51.9	60%	78%	–
2023/24	238	51.6	57%	77%	+0.05
2022/23	246	53.8	60%	79%	+0.17

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Thomas More Catholic School, BlaydonThis school
This school

Good2023

2.5applications per place 52.0Attainment 8
Excelsior Academy
2.5 km · Newcastle upon Tyne

Requires improvement2024

1.5applications per place 34.4Attainment 8
Whickham School
3.3 km · Gateshead

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.6applications per place 50.2Attainment 8
Thorp Academy
3.6 km · Gateshead

Remains Good2024

1.5applications per place 49.8Attainment 8
St Cuthbert's High School
3.6 km · Newcastle upon Tyne

Good2024

2.1applications per place 46.9Attainment 8
Studio West
4.0 km · Newcastle upon Tyne

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.6applications per place 33.0Attainment 8
Walbottle Academy
4.1 km · Newcastle upon Tyne

Good2023

2.0applications per place 46.3Attainment 8
Kingsmeadow Community School
4.6 km · Gateshead

2026

1.9applications per place 45.1Attainment 8
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
4.7 km · Newcastle upon Tyne

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.6applications per place 51.8Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 137851 · 390/4606
Trust: Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,509 pupils · 1,401 on roll
Free school meals: 19.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 February 2012
Replaced: St Thomas More Catholic School (URN 108413)
Address: Croftdale Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne, NE21 4BQ
Local authority: Gateshead

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources