Sacred Heart Catholic High School

Courage and Confidence, the words of St Madeleine Sophie Barat, have guided this girls' school since the Society of the Sacred Heart founded it in Fenham Hall in 1905. Over a century later, Sacred Heart remains one of the North East's most sought-after Catholic schools. With 610 applications for 253 places, competition for entry is fierce. The December 2024 Ofsted inspection rated the school Outstanding in every category, continuing a streak of four consecutive Outstanding judgements. As Newcastle's designated centre of excellence for music and the Lead School in the north for the Royal Shakespeare Company, performing arts permeate school life in ways that set Sacred Heart apart from other comprehensives.

Fenham Hall Drive sits in Newcastle's west end, where the original Victorian hall has been joined by purpose-built additions following a near £10 million campus redevelopment. The main building connects to a dedicated technology and art block, a PE building, modern foreign languages and mathematics wing, geography building, sixth form centre, pottery studio, and a state-of-the-art dance studio. The auditorium, designed to professional standards, hosts everything from whole-school assemblies to RSC touring productions.

Mrs Suzanne Howell has led the school since January 2021, having previously served as deputy head after roles at Cardinal Hume Catholic School in Gateshead and St Wilfrid's Catholic College in South Shields. She studied English and music at Lancaster, a background that resonates with the school's performing arts specialism. Under her leadership, Sacred Heart has maintained its academic strength whilst expanding its creative partnerships.

The Catholic character is genuine and pervasive. Faith is woven into daily life through prayer, liturgy, and service. The school is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust, working closely with feeder primaries from Year 3 onwards through transition activities. Gospel values underpin the behaviour policy, and students speak of a genuine community atmosphere where pastoral support is visible and accessible.

GCSE Results

Sacred Heart's GCSE results place it firmly above the England average. In 2024, 34% of grades were 9-7, with an Attainment 8 score of 56.9, significantly exceeding the England average of 45.9. The school ranks 865th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% of secondary schools in England. Locally, it ranks 8th among secondary schools in Newcastle.

Progress 8 tells an equally strong story. The score of +0.54 indicates that students make significantly above-average progress from their starting points. This value-added measure demonstrates that regardless of prior attainment, girls at Sacred Heart tend to exceed expectations.

A-Level Results

At A-level, 13% of grades achieved A*, with 31% at A*/A and 56% at A*-B. These results exceed the England average of 24% at A*/A and 47% at A*-B. The school ranks 686th in England for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it within the middle 35% of sixth forms in England. In Newcastle, it ranks 7th among providers with sixth forms.

The school's performing arts specialism influences subject choices. Drama and Theatre Studies, Dance, and Music all feature prominently, alongside traditional academic subjects. The curriculum includes Art and Design, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English Language, English Literature, Film Studies, and Business Studies, among others. BTEC vocational courses complement A-levels, with students achieving the highest Distinction* grades in applied subjects.

Teaching follows structured approaches with high expectations. The curriculum reflects the school's Performing Arts specialism whilst maintaining breadth. French and other modern foreign languages feature from Key Stage 3. Sciences are taught separately, and mathematics follows a traditional rigorous approach.

The school operates as a Platinum Artsmark institution. Drama, Dance, and Music are not merely options but core to the school's identity. Specialist teachers in these subjects work alongside visiting professionals. The RSC partnership brings working actors and directors into school, providing masterclasses and production experience that students would otherwise only access through expensive drama schools.

Class sizes average around 14 students per teacher, enabling individual attention. The Ofsted inspection confirmed that teachers have expert subject knowledge and explain concepts clearly. Pupils develop deep understanding rather than surface learning, and assessment is used effectively to identify and address gaps.

In 2024, 61% of sixth form leavers progressed to university. A further 7% began apprenticeships, 5% continued to further education, and 15% entered employment directly.

Oxbridge success is noteworthy for a comprehensive school. One student secured a Cambridge place in 2024, continuing a pattern where Sacred Heart sends students to Oxbridge annually. Historical results include students reading Music at Cambridge and German and Arabic at Oxford.

The school has particular strength in preparing students for competitive courses. Medical school places feature regularly in destinations, alongside degrees in nursing, midwifery, and optometry. Apprenticeship routes are taken seriously, with students joining firms including KPMG, Clifford Chance, Newcastle Building Society, and Ernst and Young.

Durham, Bristol, Exeter, and Edinburgh appear frequently among destinations. Students describe varied pathways, with some taking gap years, others pursuing foundation courses, and many heading directly to Russell Group universities. The school's vocational provision opens routes that purely academic schools cannot match.

Sacred Heart admits 225 students to Year 7 annually. The school is significantly oversubscribed, with 610 applications for 253 places in the most recent admissions cycle, a ratio of 2.4 applicants per place. The school's admissions authority is the Governing Body.

As a Catholic school, faith criteria apply. Baptised Catholic children form the priority after looked-after children and those with EHCPs naming the school. However, the school explicitly encourages applications from girls outside Catholic education.

The Performing Arts specialism allows up to 10% of the annual intake to be selected based on aptitude in performing arts. This is assessed through an objective method measuring aptitude rather than general ability or prior training. Families interested in this route should contact the school directly for assessment dates.

Applications are coordinated through Newcastle City Council. The standard Year 7 application deadline follows the national timetable. Transition activities begin in Year 3 through partnerships with feeder primaries, and dedicated transition days run in July for students with confirmed places.

Sixth form applications are handled directly by the school. The sixth form accepts external applicants alongside internal progression. Entry requirements and course options are detailed in the Sixth Form Prospectus, with induction days offering taster lessons across available subjects.

Pastoral support structures are robust. The Ofsted inspection rated behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding, noting that pupils feel safe and are genuinely comfortable in school. The behaviour policy references Gospel values explicitly, and students use this language naturally.

Year group teams provide continuity of care. Form tutors know their students well, and concerns are escalated appropriately to heads of year and the wider pastoral team. The school's Catholic ethos translates into practical support for families facing difficulties, with a network of parish connections providing additional community resource.

Personal development was rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Students appreciate the diverse range of opportunities to develop talents and interests. Educational visits enrich learning, and students take part in activities spanning sport, music, dance, and drama. The inspection noted that the range of courses and activities matches students' needs and aspirations closely.

Performing Arts

The performing arts provision is exceptional. As the Lead School in the north for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Sacred Heart provides opportunities unavailable at most state schools. In April 2025, the school hosted the RSC's touring production of The Tempest, with Year 8 and 9 students watching live professional theatre in their own auditorium. Students assist with technical production, gaining experience in sound, lighting, and set construction alongside professional crews.

The RSC Next Generation programme supports three Sacred Heart students with professional training and mentorship. In 2024, students performed Two Gentlemen of Verona at Stratford. In August 2025, three students performed in Timon of Athens at The Other Place in Stratford, taking named roles alongside professional actors. These opportunities are designed to support emerging talent from backgrounds without typical access to professional arts.

Music is equally central. Sacred Heart serves as Newcastle's centre of excellence for music and the city's music hub. Opportunities range from rock bands to string ensembles, with specialist tuition available for the musically gifted. Annual productions, concerts, and showcases fill the school calendar.

Sport

The sports programme offers breadth for all alongside competitive excellence. Football, hockey, netball, badminton, basketball, and trampolining feature alongside tag rugby and rowing. The school adds activities based on student interest and demand, creating a responsive rather than fixed programme.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

Bronze Award begins in Year 10. The school's DofE Team provides structured support for completing Volunteering, Physical, and Skill sections, with training provided for expedition requirements. Practice and assessed expeditions run through school in Term 3.

Gold Award runs in Year 12, with evidence logging and residential placement support provided. The extended timeframe sees completion across Year 12 and Year 13, with practice and assessed expeditions coordinated by staff.

STEM

Science facilities support separate teaching from Year 7. The technology block houses specialist equipment, and Computer Science features as both GCSE and A-level option. The school's partnership work extends beyond arts, with STEM enrichment activities complementing the curriculum.

The school day begins at 8:40am. After-school clubs run across multiple days, with performing arts, sports, and academic enrichment sessions available. Term dates for 2025-26 include INSET days on 1st September 2025, 17th October 2025, and 3rd July 2026.

The school is accessible by bus, with several Newcastle routes serving Fenham. Parking for drop-off and collection is limited. The Sixth Form Centre has separate facilities for post-16 students.

Faith commitment expected. The school's Catholic character is genuine and pervasive. Daily prayer, regular liturgies, and Gospel values frame school life. Families uncomfortable with explicit religious practice should consider whether this environment suits their daughter.

Oversubscribed admissions. With 2.4 applications per place, securing entry requires meeting admissions criteria carefully. Catholic baptism provides significant priority, though performing arts aptitude offers an alternative route for up to 10% of places. Check current distance and criteria data before assuming a place is likely.

Performing arts culture. The school's specialism shapes its character significantly. Students who thrive here often engage with drama, music, or dance. Those with no interest in performing arts will still receive excellent education, but may find the school's identity less aligned with their own.

Travel from outside Fenham. The school draws students from across Newcastle and beyond. Journey times can be significant for those living in the city's east or north. Factor realistic travel into daily routines, particularly for students participating in after-school activities.

Sacred Heart Catholic High School combines academic strength with exceptional performing arts provision in a way that few state schools can match. The December 2024 Outstanding rating across all categories confirms that leadership has maintained quality through multiple inspection cycles. GCSE results place the school in the top 25% in England, whilst A-level outcomes open routes to Russell Group universities and competitive apprenticeships.

Best suited to Catholic families seeking single-sex education with genuine faith integration, or to any family with a daughter passionate about performing arts who can secure entry through the aptitude route. The school takes students from varied backgrounds and adds significant value to their outcomes. Admission remains the primary hurdle; those who secure places find an education that balances tradition with creative opportunity.