St Cuthbert's Catholic High School

What St Cuthbert's Catholic High School does

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is a state-funded, all-boys Catholic comprehensive secondary school located on Gretna Road in Newcastle upon Tyne (NE15 7PX), serving boys aged 11-18 across seven year groups from Year 7 through to Sixth Form (Years 12-13). Founded in 1881 and operating for over 140 years, the school is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (Company Registration No. 7841435) and sits within the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Its core offering combines a full secondary academic curriculum (GCSE and A Level pathways), Catholic spiritual formation through chaplaincy and retreats, an extensive co-curricular programme (sports, music, Duke of Edinburgh, Fortis Dux Leadership Award, CAFOD Club), and structured pastoral and SEND support. Student outcomes include boys outperforming the national boys' average by 10%, with 51% of Year 13 students progressing to Russell Group universities and 80% securing their first-choice university.

The business model is dominated by UK government education funding routed through the ESFA and the Trust, with supplementary Pupil Premium grants (£442,900 disclosed for 2025-2026) and ancillary transactional income from a biometric cashless catering system at £3 per two-course meal and uniform resale via The School Outfit. Admissions follow the DfE Admissions Code, coordinated through Newcastle City Council, with oversubscription criteria prioritising Catholic boys; non-Catholic families are admitted once Catholic obligations are met. The school has a leadership team of one Headmaster, three Deputy Heads, six Assistant Heads, and a Business Manager, supported by 80-100+ teaching and support staff. Technology is limited to standard educational classroom tools and a SparX VR virtual tour for prospective parents; there is no proprietary AI/ML, software product, or platform business. Notable alumni include Sting, Neil Tennant, Declan Donnelly, Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, and over 300 priests across the Diocese, reinforcing a long-standing brand anchored in Catholic identity and boys' education.

Name

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School

Legal name

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School

Website

https://st-cuthbertshigh.newcastle.sch.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1881

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is a state-funded all-boys Catholic secondary school in Newcastle upon Tyne, serving boys aged 11-18 across seven year groups under the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, with government funding, oversubscribed admissions, and strong university progression outcomes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Secondary Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Catholic secondary education
• Boys secondary school
• Sixth Form education
• Pastoral care services
• Academic curriculum delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle upon Tyne

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Education Funding: State-funded academy receiving government education funding through the Education Funding Agency. Part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust which handles funding agreements with the DfE.
2. Pupil Premium Grant: Additional funding received to support education of boys from low-income families eligible for Free School Meals. School received £442,900 for academic year 2025-2026.
3. Catering/Meal Services: Cashless catering system operating through biometric fingerprint reader. Standard two-course meal deal priced at £3.00. Hot and cold food available before school, during break and lunchtimes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School is an all-boys Catholic comprehensive secondary school based in Newcastle upon Tyne, providing education for boys aged 11-18 across Years 7-13. It delivers a full academic curriculum, Catholic spiritual formation, pastoral care, SEND support, co-curricular activities, and a Sixth Form offering A Level and Applied General qualifications. The school is state-funded, operated under the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, and has been providing Catholic education since 1881.

Product overview

St Cuthbert's Catholic High School offers a holistic Catholic education for boys aged 11-18. The school provides a unified educational programme combining rigorous academic curriculum (Years 7-13), Catholic spiritual formation, pastoral care, and extensive co-curricular activities. The offering spans core academic departments (Religious Education, Sciences, Humanities, Languages, Arts, PE), Sixth Form with A Level/Applied General pathways, Catholic Life and Chaplaincy services, Personal Development PSHE programme, Careers CEIAG support, and Learning Support/SEND services. The curriculum is delivered through subject-specific departments and supported by pastoral systems including Form Tutors, Heads of Year, and the Savio Centre. Co-curricular offerings include sports, music, drama, and service programmes such as Duke of Edinburgh and Fortis Dux Leadership Award.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Secondary School Curriculum (Years 7-11)
• Sixth Form (Years 12-13)

Quantifiable outcome

• Boys outperform national boys' average by 10%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bishop Bewick Catholic Education TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ultimate responsibility for the running of St Cuthbert's Catholic High School resides with the Directors of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust. The Trust sets strategic direction and is accountable to the Secretary of State for performance. The Local Governing Committee provides guidance and support to the Headmaster and Leadership Team.
• Blackfriars PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPupils prepare and lead the prayer life of the school. School works with Blackfriars Partnership for sacramental preparation including Confirmation preparation with the parish of The Sacred Heart North Gosforth.
• The People's KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaith in action includes regular donations and support for The People's Kitchen, a local homeless charity. Students collect items and support the charity's work.
• CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSixth Form collects items for CAFOD and supports their work. Green Team achieved CAFOD's Live Simply Award. Partnership includes CAFOD Club as part of Catholic co-curricular programme.
• The Little Sisters of the PoorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Team has partnership with The Little Sisters of the Poor care home. Fresh produce grown by the Green Team is donated to those in need through this partnership.
• Newcastle United FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Newcastle United Foundation allows pupils to receive market-leading advice from successful local businesses through mock interviews, presentations, visits and more as part of CEIAG programme.
• Blueprint for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Blueprint for All (formerly known as Sawers) provides careers education opportunities as part of the CEIAG programme.
• Global Bridge / Skills Builder ProgrammecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Global Bridge embedding the Skills Builder programme enables St Cuthbert's boys to learn the soft skills required to succeed in the workplace and beyond.
• YMT (Youth Village)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetreat programme offers Years 7-10 uplifting and engaging experiences at The Youth Village with YMT. Students spend time in prayer, work, and reflection at this retreat centre.
• Ampleforth AbbeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear 11 and Sixth Form enjoy deeper spiritual retreat experiences at Ampleforth Abbey, including the chance to pray with its remarkable Benedictine community.
• Newcastle City Council Careers TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewcastle Careers Team provides careers adviser support to young people in school during year 11. Advisers are experienced and qualified to level 6 in Careers Information, Advice and Guidance.
• NEXUS (Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNEXUS provides dedicated scholars' buses to support boys travelling safely and reliably to and from school. Reduced travel costs available for pupils with U-16 card or Teen Ticket. Special travel card available for Sixth Form.
• Stagecoach NewcastleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStagecoach in Newcastle services 10, 11, 39 and 40 provide frequent public transport service from City Centre and West End to near school (stop for West Road Crematorium).
• The School OutfitminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool uniform items including blazer and PE kit available for purchase from The School Outfit online retailer. School ties also available from school Finance Office.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• St Bede's College Manchester: Catholic boys' day school in the North of England for ages 3-18, combining strong academic outcomes with Catholic formation - directly comparable in faith-based boys' secondary education, especially within a similar regional Northern England footprint.
• St Ambrose College: Catholic boys' secondary school in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, with Sixth Form and a comparable ethos of forming young men of faith, character and academic ambition - directly mirrors St Cuthbert's boys' Catholic comprehensive model.
• St Bonaventure's School: Catholic boys' state secondary school in Forest Gate, London, serving boys 11-18 - directly comparable in faith-based boys' comprehensive schooling and Sixth Form delivery.
• Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School: All-boys Catholic state-funded secondary school in London serving boys 11-18, with strong academic outcomes, Catholic ethos and Russell Group placement emphasis - directly comparable to St Cuthbert's model and mission.
• St Ignatius' College: Catholic boys' state secondary school in Enfield serving boys 11-18, with Jesuit Catholic ethos, strong pastoral care and emphasis on university progression - functionally aligned to St Cuthbert's boys' Catholic comprehensive model.
• St Mary's Catholic High School, Chesterfield: Catholic secondary school in the East Midlands with similar Catholic comprehensive character, oversubscription patterns and Sixth Form provision - directly comparable in faith-based secondary schooling within the English state system.
• St Peter's Catholic School, Solihull: Catholic secondary school in the West Midlands with strong academic outcomes and a comparable Sixth Form pathway, mirroring St Cuthbert's combination of Catholic ethos, comprehensive intake and university progression focus.

Others

• Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust: Multi-academy trust under which St Cuthbert's operates; comparable as the parent governance body responsible for funding, strategy and oversight of multiple Catholic schools in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
• Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle Catholic Schools: Wider network of Catholic schools in the North East under the same diocesan trusteeship as St Cuthbert's; comparable as the institutional feeder ecosystem, diocesan inspection authority and source of shared Catholic formation resources.
• Interactive Schools (SprX): School website and communications platform provider to St Cuthbert's; an ecosystem vendor rather than a competitor, included because it powers the school's digital admissions journey, SparX VR tours and Families Update newsletter infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/twitter
• YouTubest-cuthbertshigh.newcastle.sch.uk/Youtube
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-cuthberts-ncl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St Cuthbert's Catholic High School