Schools by area › Bradford › St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Academy
Highgate, Heaton, Bradford BD9 4BQ · sbsj.co.uk · 01274 941941
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 44.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Bradford 40.8, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 0.95 mi
- 1.54 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Bradford Council
- Demand for places
- 1.0
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,800
- 92% of 1,950 places
- Local authority
- Bradford
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 28.2%
- First language not English
- 27.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.95 mi (1.54 km) from the school. Source: Bradford Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 297 families put the school first and 283 places were offered; 83% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 283 | 297 | 1▲ | 83% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 285 | 306 | 1.1▲ | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 285 | 336 | 1.2▲ | 76% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 284 | 339 | 1.2▲ | 80% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 286 | 302 | 1.1▲ | 85% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.95 mi1.54 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 44.5, and 45.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Bradford it was 40.8, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (33.9 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●44.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ●45.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲67.5% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼8.7% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.51 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 140569)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 57.1 | −7.7 |
| Sixth form college | 5.1 | −0.5 |
| Further education | 26.9 | +10.9 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| Employment | 1.7 | 0 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.1 | −3.2 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | −0.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 104 students | C+ (33.9) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 105 students | C+ (34) | Above average +0.18 | |
| 90 students | Dist- (30.4) | Above average +0.21 | |
| 10 students | Dist- (30) | Average -0.15 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 123 | C (31.6) | -0.02 |
| 2022/23 | 126 | B- (36.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 145 | B- (37.8) | — |
| 2018/19 | 163 | C (29.1) | -0.26 |
| 2017/18 | 131 | C (29.8) | -0.17 |
| 2016/17 | 138 | C- (28.1) | -0.11 |
| 2015/16 | 146 | C (30.5) | +0.08 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 66.9 | +1.5 |
| Further and other education | 2.4 | +0.2 |
| Further education | 1.8 | +0.2 |
| Other education | 0.6 | +0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.5 | +2.8 |
| Employment | 11 | −3.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 11 | +2 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | −3.3 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy on 19 May 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: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 19 May 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 | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Sept 2019
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 140569), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2019Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140569)
Before September 2019
May 2017Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 140569)