St Aloysius Catholic Infant School, Hebburn Review 2026: Catholic infant school with ambitious early learning

As an infant school (Nursery to Year 2), St Aloysius does not culminate in Key Stage 2 tests, so parents should not expect the same published end of primary data that you would use to compare a full primary school. The more meaningful indicators here are the quality of early reading, language development, and early mathematics foundations.

Ofsted also noted that children in Reception make a bright start to learning to read, and that staff use consistent language and strategies linked to the school’s phonics programme. In practice, that usually shows up in confident blending, accurate decoding, and children being able to talk about sounds and spelling patterns with increasing precision as they move through Year 1 and Year 2.

Curriculum sequencing is a recurring theme in the inspection evidence. The report describes a carefully considered approach to what is taught and in what order, supported by knowledgeable leaders and strong subject knowledge across staff. The implication is straightforward, pupils are less likely to experience gaps caused by inconsistent delivery between classes, which matters in early years where small misunderstandings can snowball.

Early years examples in the report are specific enough to feel real rather than generic. Nursery learning includes minibeasts and bug hunts, which is a good marker for hands on vocabulary building and structured talk. Reception writing is linked to topic work, including writing postcards and applying phonics knowledge when writing menus, which points to an emphasis on purposeful writing rather than isolated worksheet tasks.

Mathematics is described through regular problem solving and reasoning activities, including a set of tasks referred to as “use your head” activities. For parents, the value is in children learning to explain thinking early, not just getting answers right. That tends to help later with confidence in multi step problems and with the language of reasoning, which can otherwise become a barrier around Year 3 and Year 4.

Support for pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities is referenced in the inspection report as timely and skilled, with careful monitoring and appropriate adaptations, plus engagement with external professionals where needed. If your child is on SEN support, it is still worth asking for the practical details, for example how targets are reviewed, how speech and language input is accessed, and how support is balanced with independence. The published evidence suggests the underlying systems are in place.

The key transition is from Year 2 into a junior school. The school’s admissions information is explicit that there is no automatic transfer to a junior school, including St Aloysius Juniors, and parents must apply through the local authority at the relevant time.

This is a point families sometimes miss when they assume an “infant and junior” pairing works like an all through primary. In practical terms, you should treat Year 2 as an application year and plan ahead, particularly if you are seeking continuity within Catholic education locally.

Reception places are coordinated through the local authority, and the school’s published admissions policy for 2026 to 2027 sets a Published Admissions Number of 60 for Reception. provided, the school is oversubscribed, with 110 applications for 60 offers, and first preference demand exceeding first preference offers. That aligns with what many Catholic schools experience, where a faith link, a local reputation, and sibling patterns can make places feel tight.

Faith based criteria are central. The policy states that when applications exceed places, priority is given to Catholic children, with additional categories covering looked after children, other Christian denominations, other faiths, and then other children. The policy also sets out tie break arrangements using distance to the school, measured as the shortest distance from the parental home to the school entrance using the local authority GIS.

For 2026 entry, the policy states a closing date for on time applications of 15 January 2026, with outcome notifications on 16 April or the next working day. If you are considering applying under a faith criterion, it is sensible to read the evidence requirements carefully and allow time to gather any supporting documentation, because missing evidence can affect how an application is ranked within a category.

A practical tip for shortlisting is to use FindMySchool’s Map Search to check travel time and day to day practicality, even when distance is not the only priority. For families juggling nursery drop off, work, and after school care, the commute can decide whether a place feels sustainable.

At infant stage, pastoral care is mostly about consistent adult relationships, predictable routines, and a calm approach to behaviour. The inspection evidence describes pupils as role models for each other, with positive social times and a strong sense of belonging.

Safety education is also referenced, including helping pupils understand local risks and online safety, supported by visitors to school. This matters because early safeguarding culture often shows up in how children talk about boundaries and who they can go to for help, which is a useful thing to listen for if you attend an open event.

For younger pupils, enrichment works best when it reinforces confidence, language, and curiosity. The inspection report points to a growing range of activities at breaktimes, with social times described as positive and happy. It also references specific opportunities including photography and British Sign Language, which is unusually distinctive at infant level and suggests the school is willing to broaden what “enrichment” means beyond sport and performance alone.

Outdoor learning also appears in the inspection evidence, including a “secret garden” that supports outdoor learning. For many children, especially those who learn best through movement and exploration, a purposeful outdoor space can be the difference between simply coping with school and actively enjoying it.

The Catholic life of the school is likely to add further opportunities through celebration and service, and the website highlights pupil roles such as Mini Vinnies, which typically focus on charity and community support in age appropriate ways.

The school day runs from 9.00am to 3.30pm. Breakfast Club runs from 7.45am to 9.00am, and after school wraparound care runs from 3.15pm to 5.00pm. In addition, the school publishes after school club scheduling that indicates clubs typically run for about an hour and finish at around 4.20pm.

For transport, most families will approach this as a walking and short drive school serving Hebburn. When you are comparing options, focus on the practicality of getting there twice a day, plus whether wraparound care is likely to be part of your routine during nursery and infant years.

Nursery fees are not listed here. For nursery pricing, use the school’s website, and check eligibility for government funded hours via official guidance.

• Infant only structure. Year 2 is not the end of primary education, and there is no automatic transfer to a junior school. Plan ahead for the junior application in Year 2.

• Competitive Reception entry. Demand exceeds places. If you are relying on a faith category, make sure you understand the evidence requirements and timelines.

• Catholic character is central. The school’s admissions arrangements and ethos assume families will support the Catholic life of the school, even though applications are not limited to Catholic families.

• Trust context. The school sits within Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, which can bring shared approaches and oversight, and can also mean changes are coordinated at trust level.

St Aloysius Catholic Infant School, Hebburn offers a structured, ambitious start to education, with evidence pointing to strong early reading foundations, well sequenced learning, and a settled culture where pupils feel safe and keen to learn. Best suited to families who want a distinctly Catholic early years and infant setting, are prepared for a competitive Reception process, and are comfortable planning ahead for the move to a junior school.