St Benedict's Catholic High School
Red Lonning, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8UGOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Benedict's Catholic High School is a secondary school in Whitehaven for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 178 schools in Cumberland. It ranks 9th of 19 secondary schools in Cumberland. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in September 2014.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 16 September 2014, report published 8 October 2014
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Sixth form provision
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 3 June 2025
Polite and happy pupils are well cared for by staff at this school. Pupils display positive attitudes to their learning. They are attentive, engaged and keen to participate in lessons. The school has increasingly high expectations of what pupils can achieve. Current pupils are learning the curriculum well. Pupils benefit from a well-thought-out programme that is designed to increase their awareness of different careers. Younger pupils speak eagerly about 'world of work' days sparking their interest in potential careers. The school provides a range of clubs. Pupils are keen to participate in activities that help to nurture their talents, such as the school band and football club. They also enjoy learning new skills, for example through orienteering events and the gardening club. The school offers a range of school trips both locally and internationally. For example, pupils build on their geographical and historical knowledge through a visit to a local castle. Pupils enjoy competing and representing their school in sporting competitions and science challenges. Sixth-form students proudly hold positions of responsibility on the school council that develop their leadership skills. Furthermore, some Year 12 students support younger pupils with their reading fluency.
What the school should improve
- Some staff do not choose the most appropriate learning activities to achieve the ambitious aims of the curriculum. As a result, some pupils do not build knowledge as well as they could. The school should ensure that teachers provide effective activities that help pupils to apply their knowledge and to remember more over time.
- In some subjects, the adapted curriculum for a small number of pupils with SEND is not designed well enough and does not match the ambition of their peers' curriculum. This limits how well a small number of pupils with SEND develop and deepen their knowledge in these subjects. The school should ensure that the adapted curriculums in these subjects are refined so that pupils with SEND gain deeper knowledge and achieve more.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
149 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
67 students
Average A level grade C, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
990 pupils on roll, with places for 1,194
Schools near St Benedict's Catholic High School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Whitehaven Academy | 0.3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 39.7 |
| St Bees School | 4 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| West Lakes Academy | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Inadequate to requires improvement | Attainment 8: 40.8 |
| Energy Coast UTC | 5 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 24.2 |
| St Josephs Catholic High School, Workington | 7 miles | Ofsted: Requires improvement | Attainment 8: 37.4 |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr John-Paul Morrison
- Phone
- 01946692275
- Address
- Red Lonning, Hensingham, Whitehaven, CA28 8UG
- Local authority
- Cumberland
- URN
- 112398
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.