Roman Catholic Schools

Twelve Roman Catholic schools in the South East corner of Northumberland form the St Benet Biscop Roman Catholic Partnership made up of St Benet Biscop High School and its feeder middle and first schools.  The twelve schools in the RC Partnership are:

• St Aidan’s RC VA First School, Ashington
• St Andrew’s RC VA First School, Blyth
• St Bede’s RC VA First School, Bedlington
• St Cuthbert’s RC VA First School, Amble
• St John’s RC VA First School, Alnwick
• St Paul’s RC VA First School, Cramlington
• St Robert’s RC VA First School, Morpeth
• St Benedict’s RC VA Middle School, Ashington
• St Peter’s RC VA Middle School, Cramlington
• St Wilfrid’s RC VA Middle School, Blyth
• Thomas Percy RC VA Middle School, Alnwick
• St Benet Biscop RC VA High School

Pupils in the first and middle RC schools in the county that do not form part of the St Benet Biscop Roman Catholic Partnership would normally attend the local  authority high school within the catchment area allocated to their home address.  However, Roman Catholic pupils attending Thomas Percy RC VA Middle School have the option of transferring to St Benet Biscop RC High School or to their catchment High School. Non-catholic pupils attending Thomas Percy would normally feed into the High School in the catchment area appropriate to their home address.

Admissions into Roman Catholic Schools

The Governing Bodies of each Roman Catholic School in Northumberland are their own admissions authorities, although Northumberland County Council assists in the co-ordination of the admissions process for these schools.  Click here to move to the Admissions Page

Latest News

Reorganisation of Catholic Schools in Bedlington & Blyth

The Executive of Northumberland County Council approved proposals for the reorganisation of Catholic schools in Bedlington and Blyth on 30 September 2009. Under the proposals.St Andrew’s First School, Blyth and St Bede’s First School, Bedlington will become primary schools for children from age 3 to 11 in September 2010. St Wilfrid’s Middle School in Blyth will close in August 2011 although the buildings will be used for St Andrew’s Primary School from September 2011. St Benet Biscop Catholic High School in Bedlington will become an 11-18 high school in September 2011.

The proposals were put forward by the Governing Bodies of the four schools with the support of Officers from the Catholic Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle and Northumberland County Council.  The proposals are in line with the County Council's own programme of school reorganisation in the county from the three-tier system to the primary/secondary system, PUtting the Learner First (PLF).

Almost £5m has been earmarked by the RC Diocese to support the additional building and remodelling needed to accommodate the additional children at the three remaining schools.

Admissions criteria into Year 7 at St Benet Biscop Catholic High School from September 2011 will ensure that pupils transferring from St Bede's and St Andrew's RC VA Primary Schools are given priority.   Admissions numbers and criteria into Year 9 at St Benet Biscop will not be affected by these proposals.