Schools by area › County Durham › St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester
St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Consett Road, Lanchester, Durham DH7 0RD · stbedes.durham.sch.uk · 01207 520424
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Mar 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.9
- average Attainment 8 score. County Durham 44.1, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,240
- 86% of 1,450 places
- Local authority
- County Durham
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22%
- First language not English
- 7.3%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 205 families put the school first and 221 places were offered; 100% 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 | 221 | 205 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 230 | 230 | 1 | 94% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 218 | 231 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 216 | 256 | 1.2▲ | 84% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 216 | 262 | 1.2▲ | 82% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.9, and 42.4% 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 C+ (32.9 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼42.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲69.2% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲51.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.07 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 40.3 | −5.8 |
| Further education | 45.1 | +6.4 |
| Other education | 0.4 | −0.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.7 | −2.7 |
| Employment | 4.7 | +1.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.3 | +1 |
| Activity not captured | 0.4 | 0 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 students | C+ (32.9) | Average -0.14 | |
| 61 students | C+ (33.6) | Average -0.08 | |
| 20 students | Merit+ (28.5) | Average -0.20 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 77 | C+ (33.1) | -0.12 |
| 2022/23 | 78 | C+ (32.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 93 | C+ (34.2) | — |
| 2018/19 | 101 | C+ (34) | 0.00 |
| 2017/18 | 117 | C (29.8) | -0.01 |
| 2016/17 | 126 | C (30.5) | -0.01 |
| 2015/16 | 165 | C+ (33.7) | +0.13 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 62.2 | +3.9 |
| Further and other education | 2.4 | — |
| Further education | 1.2 | — |
| Other education | 1.2 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 6.1 | −2.2 |
| Employment | 22 | −3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.7 | −4.6 |
| Activity not captured | 3.7 | — |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Bede's Catholic School and Sixth Form College, Lanchester on 17 March 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 17 Mar 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Mar 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Mar 2023Requires improvement
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jan 2009Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding May 2006Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Requires improvement
What parents said
60% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (258 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 60%
- Positive
- 53%
- Replies
- 258
- 21% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 91% who raised concerns
based on 85 parents (33%) whose child was bullied
based on 98 parents (38%) with SEND