Cardinal Hume Catholic School, Gateshead
Academy converter · sixth form · 1,505 pupils
83% stayed in education · Attainment 8 53.2
Academy converter
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy
- Pupils on roll
- 1,334of 1,496 places
- Free school meals
- 31.6%
- Year 11 cohort 2025
- 237
- Ofsted
- Report card, 2 December 2025Read the Ofsted report
Curriculum and teaching Expected standardAchievement Expected standardAttendance and behaviour Strong standardPersonal development and wellbeing Expected standardInclusion Expected standardLeadership and governance Expected standardPost-16 provision Expected standardSafeguarding Met
Results below include those reported under the school’s previous registration: Lord Lawson of Beamish Community School (URN 108403, until 1 March 2012).
What the data says
Of the 228 pupils who finished Year 11 at Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy in 2023, 36% stayed on in Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy’s own sixth form (Gateshead average 40%), 50% went to a further education college and 2% started an apprenticeship.
Among the 87 students who left the sixth form in 2023, 54% went to university (Gateshead 33%, England 37%), and 22% of level 3 students progressed to one of the most selective universities, against 19% nationally; 17% started an apprenticeship, well above the 7% England average.
GCSE results in 2025 were in line with the national picture: Attainment 8 of 46.6 against 46.1 across England and 47.0 in Gateshead, with 49% of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both English and maths (England 45%).
A level grades average C+, around the England average of B-. The largest A level subjects are Business Studies, Geography and Psychology.
Where pupils went after Year 11
Destinations of the 2023 Year 11 leavers, measured the following year: the share in a sustained place for at least two terms. Compared with all state-funded schools in Gateshead and England.
School sixth formSixth form collegeFurther education collegeOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils in the cohort | 228 | 2,044 | 607,348 |
| Any sustained destination | 90% | 91% | 92% |
| Stayed in education | 86% | 84% | 86% |
| — school sixth form | 36% | 40% | 34% |
| — sixth form college | 0% | — | 13% |
| — further education college | 50% | 42% | 37% |
| — other education | — | 2% | 2% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 4% | 3% |
| Employment | 2% | 3% | 3% |
| No sustained destination | 6% | 7% | 6% |
| Destination unknown | 4% | 2% | 3% |
Where students went after sixth form
Destinations of students who finished 16–18 study in 2023, measured the following year.
University (higher education)Further educationOther educationApprenticeshipEmploymentNo sustained destination
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students in the cohort | 87 | 2,144 | 541,441 |
| Any sustained destination | 93% | 79% | 79% |
| University (higher education) | 54% | 33% | 37% |
| — most selective universities (top third), of level 3 students | 22% | 17% | 19% |
| Further education | 1% | 7% | 5% |
| Apprenticeship | 17% | 12% | 7% |
| Employment | 21% | 28% | 28% |
| No sustained destination | 3% | 14% | 16% |
GCSE results 2025
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8 (average points per pupil) | 46.6 | 47.0 | 46.1 |
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 49% | 50% | 45% |
| Grade 4 or above in English and maths | 72% | 69% | 65% |
| Entered the English Baccalaureate subjects | 8% | 49% | 41% |
| EBacc average point score | 3.72 | 4.23 | 4.09 |
| Disadvantaged pupils in the cohort | 33% | 31% | 28% |
| Attainment 8 — disadvantaged pupils | 38.6 | 33.9 | 34.9 |
| Attainment 8 — other pupils | 50.5 | 52.8 | 50.4 |
| Pupils with high prior attainment (Key Stage 2) | — | — | — |
| English as an additional language | 6% | 10% | 19% |
Progress 8 is not available for 2025 and 2026: these cohorts had no Key Stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021, so there is no baseline. Attainment 8 shows results without taking pupils’ starting points into account.
Subjects taken at GCSE
Entries in 2025 as a share of the Year 11 cohort, and the share of entries graded 7–9 and 4–9, compared with all entries in England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England | Grades 7–9 | England | Grades 4–9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 232 | 98% | 88% | 22% | 22% | 80% |
| English Language | 232 | 98% | 89% | 14% | 20% | 72% |
| English Literature | 230 | 97% | 86% | 17% | 21% | 76% |
| Combined Science | 213 | 90% | 65% | 5% | 9% | 63% |
| Geography | 112 | 47% | 41% | 8% | 25% | 51% |
| History | 74 | 31% | 41% | 16% | 26% | 51% |
| Business Studies | 50 | 21% | 18% | 28% | 20% | 88% |
| Photography | 39 | 16% | 6% | 31% | 19% | 85% |
| Fine Art | 32 | 14% | 9% | 19% | 28% | 75% |
| Computer Science | 27 | 11% | 13% | 22% | 30% | 78% |
| Religious Studies | 26 | 11% | 31% | 35% | 32% | 92% |
| German | 23 | 10% | 5% | 52% | 33% | 96% |
| Graphic Communication | 18 | 8% | 1% | 28% | 23% | 100% |
| Biology | 17 | 7% | 23% | 47% | 45% | 100% |
| Chemistry | 17 | 7% | 23% | 53% | 47% | 100% |
| Physics | 17 | 7% | 23% | 41% | 46% | 100% |
| Drama | 14 | 6% | 7% | 50% | 27% | 100% |
| 3D Design | 14 | 6% | 2% | 29% | 16% | 93% |
| French | 11 | 5% | 18% | 45% | 29% | 91% |
| Music | 9 | 4% | 5% | 56% | 33% | 89% |
| Textiles | 8 | 3% | 2% | 13% | 27% | 88% |
| Dance | 7 | 3% | 1% | 71% | 27% | 100% |
| Arabic | 1 | 0% | 1% | — | 47% | — |
Technical awards and other Key Stage 4 qualifications
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports / Movement Science | 68 | 100% | — |
| Childcare Skills | 49 | 77% | — |
| Hospitality / Catering Studies | 34 | 53% | — |
| Building / Construction Operations (General / Combined) | 29 | 45% | — |
| Small Business Management | 23 | 36% | — |
| Computer Appreciation / Introduction | 14 | 22% | — |
A levels and other level 3 courses
| Measure | This school | Gateshead | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students at the end of 16–18 study | 127 | — | — |
| — of whom A level students | 64 | 769 | 261,341 |
| Average A level grade | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Average points per A level entry | 33.97 | 34.17 | 35.00 |
| Average grade, best 3 A levels | C+ | B- | B- |
| AAB or better with two facilitating subjects | 23% | 17% | 18% |
| Average grade, applied general courses | — | — | — |
| Average grade, T levels | — | — | — |
A level subjects
Entries as a share of A level students, compared with the share across England.
| Subject | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Studies | 22 | 34% | 13% |
| Geography | 21 | 33% | 10% |
| Psychology | 18 | 28% | 23% |
| Mathematics | 18 | 28% | 31% |
| Physical Education | 11 | 17% | 3% |
| Physics | 10 | 16% | 12% |
| History | 9 | 14% | 13% |
| Sociology | 8 | 13% | 13% |
| English Literature | 7 | 11% | 11% |
| English Language | 7 | 11% | 4% |
| Biology | 6 | 9% | 20% |
| Music | — | — | 0% |
| Photography | — | — | 3% |
| Graphic Communication | — | — | 2% |
| Chemistry | — | — | 17% |
| Computer Science | — | — | 5% |
| German | — | — | 0% |
| Fine Art | — | — | 3% |
| Further Mathematics | — | — | 5% |
Applied, technical and other level 3 courses
| Subject | Qualification | Entries | Share of cohort | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology | BTEC National Extended Certificate L3 - Band F - P-D* | 11 | 17% | — |
| Applied Sciences | VRQ Level 3 | 10 | 16% | — |
| Study Skills | Extended Project (Diploma) | — | — | — |
| Computing and IT Advanced Technician | BTEC Level 3 National Certificate (Band D) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (All) | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Physics | GCE AS level (Not continued to A2) | — | — | — |
| Health Studies | OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate at Level 3 | — | — | — |
Other secondary schools in Gateshead
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Kingsmeadow Community School
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St Thomas More Catholic School, Blaydon
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Thorp Academy
Academy sponsor led · sixth form · 1,442 pupils
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Sources: Department for Education school and college performance tables 2024/2025 (Key Stage 4 and 16–18 results, subject entries, destination measures for 2023 leavers); Get Information About Schools register as at 19 September 2026; Ofsted management information as at 31 August 2026. Small numbers are suppressed by DfE and shown as “—”. How to read these figures.