Schools by area › County Durham › St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College
St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Woodhouse Lane, Bishop Auckland DL14 6JT · stjohns.bhcet.org.uk · 01388 603246
On the mapSearch near DL14 6JT
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 46.4
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,229
- 88% of 1,400 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 30%
- First language not English
- 4.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 210 families put the school first and 209 places were offered; 97% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 209 | 210 | 1▲ | 97% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 202 | 193 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 191 | 189 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 222 | 232 | 1▲ | 94% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 224 | 218 | 1 | 96% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 46.4, and 41.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across County Durham it was 44.1, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (36.4 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●46.4 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼41.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲68.9% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼11.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.77 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 54.6 | +7 |
| Sixth form college | 5.6 | +2.1 |
| Further education | 25 | −9.8 |
| Other education | 0.9 | +0.5 |
| Apprenticeship | 6.5 | +1.2 |
| Employment | 1.4 | −1.2 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.1 | +0.7 |
| Activity not captured | 0.9 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 64 students | B- (36.4) | Average -0.02 | |
| 65 students | B- (36.7) | Average -0.01 | |
| 37 students | Merit+ (29.9) | Average +0.15 | |
| 6 students | Dist+ (38.3) | Well above average +1.14 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 72 | C+ (34.9) | +0.15 |
| 2022/23 | 90 | C+ (34.7) | — |
| 2021/22 | 75 | B- (37.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 99 | C+ (31.7) | -0.17 |
| 2017/18 | 82 | C+ (32) | -0.04 |
| 2016/17 | 104 | C (30) | -0.12 |
| 2015/16 | 133 | C (30.6) | +0.15 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 46 | −16.9 |
| Further education | 2 | 0 |
| Apprenticeship | 18 | +5.6 |
| Employment | 22 | +7.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8 | −0.2 |
| Activity not captured | 4 | — |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 9 May 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for St John's Catholic School & Sixth Form College was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 8 May 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective May 2010Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Good May 2007Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
84% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (141 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 84%
- Replies
- 141
- 11% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 81% who raised concerns
based on the 37% who had a child bullied
based on 37 parents (26%) with SEND