St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College
Westway, Peterlee, SR8 1DEOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College is a secondary school in Peterlee for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 271 schools in County Durham. It ranks 19th of 30 secondary schools in County Durham. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2017.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 February 2017, report published 6 March 2017
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 13 June 2023
Pupils are happy and enjoy their learning. Teachers care for their pupils and help them to achieve their learning goals. Most pupils remember important knowledge. The school has a strong set of Catholic values and virtues which pupils use as a guide. There are high expectations of all pupils. Most pupils meet these expectations and behave well around the school. They are respectful towards each other and adults. Pupils say that bullying is rare. When it does occur, leaders deal with it. Pupils feel safe and well looked after in this school. Leaders provide a variety of extra activities for pupils to enjoy. Pupils, including those who are disadvantaged and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are encouraged to make full use of these extra opportunities. Leaders make sure that if pupils need support to take part, they provide it.
What the school should improve
- A small minority of pupils do not always meet the high expectations of leaders and teachers in lessons. Sometimes, pupils' learning is disrupted by others. Leaders should ensure that staff at all levels use the school's behaviour systems consistently, to ensure that low-level disruption in lessons is not tolerated.
- In a minority of cases, teachers do not check pupils' understanding thoroughly enough. When this happens, some pupils sometimes do not remember the important knowledge that they need. Leaders and teachers should ensure that pupils' understanding is checked consistently so that new learning builds on the knowledge that pupils have remembered securely.
- On occasion, the support and provision for some pupils with complex needs are not as effective as they could be, to help them to access the same learning as others. Leaders should ensure that teachers identify pupils' individual barriers to learning and provide timely and appropriate support to these pupils to help them to access the same learning as their peers.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
152 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
26 students
Average A level grade C, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
891 pupils on roll, with places for 1,100
Schools near St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Academy at Shotton Hall | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 52.2 |
| Open Air Education | 0.8 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Dene Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.4 |
| Easington Academy | 2 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Attainment 8: 51.8 |
| Wellfield School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 47.8 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BISHOP CHADWICK CATHOLIC EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Frances Cessford
- Phone
- 01915876220
- Address
- Westway, Peterlee, SR8 1DE
- Local authority
- County Durham
- URN
- 148304
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.