St Bede's Catholic Primary School, Redcar Review 2026: Catholic primary with standout KS2 outcomes

High attainment at the end of Year 6 is the headline here. In 2024, 88.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. That is backed up by strong scaled scores, with reading at 108 and maths at 106. Families also get a practical rhythm that suits working days, with wraparound provision running from 7:45am to 5:45pm.

This is a Catholic primary in Marske-by-the-Sea, serving pupils from age 3 through to Year 6. The school is part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, and its published mission language is concise and consistent, Believe, Achieve, Serve.

The Catholic identity is not treated as a bolt-on. It shows up in the “Catholic Life” strand on the website, and in how service is framed for children, including a structured pupil group through Mini Vinnies (the primary-aged branch of the St Vincent de Paul Society).

Day-to-day culture is built around clear expectations. The school uses a set of “golden rules” that emphasise respect, kindness, love in speech, teamwork, and doing your best, and pupils are expected to apply them both in classrooms and at playtimes. Play is also treated as something worth organising well, with trained pupil playground leaders and planned zones that aim to keep games inclusive and orderly.

Leadership is currently in the hands of Lucy Smith (listed as Miss L Smith on the school website, and as Headteacher Lucy Smith in the inspection report). A public start date is not clearly stated on the school website, so families who care about leadership tenure usually confirm directly at an open event or via the office.

Early years gets its own attention. Nursery and Reception are described as rooted in Catholic values, with an explicit focus on children feeling happy, safe, and ready to learn. In practice, the early years environment is described as well organised, with children moving confidently between play-based activity and more formal learning when appropriate.

The results profile is unusually strong for a state primary.

Key Stage 2 (2024)

• Reading, writing and mathematics expected standard: 88.67%

• England average (expected standard): 62%

• Higher standard (greater depth) in reading, writing and maths: 28.67%

• England average (higher standard): 8%

• Reading scaled score: 108

• Maths scaled score: 106

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled score: 108

Those figures are supported by a very high science expected standard rate (100%), and strong expected-standard rates across individual subjects, including 90% in reading and 86% in maths. (All figures are the most recent published outcomes.)

Rankings context (FindMySchool proprietary ranking based on official data)

Ranked 2604th in England and 2nd in Redcar for primary outcomes, placing the school comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

For parents, the practical implication is that teaching and assessment are landing well for most children. The higher standard figure, in particular, suggests a meaningful proportion of pupils are being stretched beyond the basics, not simply coached to scrape the pass line.

Curriculum design is described as sequenced so that knowledge builds over time, which matters at primary because gaps compound quickly, especially in reading and maths. A newer teaching and learning framework was introduced to make classroom practice more consistent across year groups. The most useful takeaway is that pupils are expected to respond quickly to instructions and to engage actively in lessons, which tends to suit children who like structure and clear routines.

Reading is treated as a core habit rather than a single subject. Phonics starts from Reception, and assessment is used to spot pupils who are falling behind, with trained adults providing targeted help so pupils can keep pace. The library is positioned as a practical resource, not a display piece, and pupils are encouraged to choose books freely and swap them regularly.

Music is framed as part of a wider enrichment entitlement, with expectations that pupils will sing, perform, and (where possible) learn an instrument over their primary journey. The school’s stated intent is that pupils should build critical listening and composition skills, as well as enjoyment.

For children with special educational needs and disabilities, identification and planning are described as careful and well reviewed. Support is intended to feel subtle rather than spotlighted, with calm spaces available for pupils who need help regulating before returning to learning.

As a primary school, the key transition is from Year 6 to Year 7. The school sits within the Redcar and Cleveland local authority area, so secondary transfer applications follow the council’s coordinated process in the autumn term of Year 6. Families who want a Catholic secondary route often explore trust and diocesan options early, while also considering travel time and friendship patterns.

Transition work is usually most effective when it is practical. The trust highlights the “Step 7 Pathway” as a way of supporting families as they approach secondary choice, and the school’s own Year 6 curriculum planning can be a good prompt for conversations about readiness, independence, and travel.

Reception entry is coordinated by Redcar and Cleveland. For September 2026 entry, the council states that the online portal opens in November 2025, and the closing date for applications is 15 January 2026.

Offer timing matters for planning. The council explains that the national primary offer date is 16 April each year (or the next working day if it falls on a weekend or bank holiday), and for the 2026 cycle it sets a response deadline of 9 May 2026.

Demand is high relative to places: 17 applications for 9 offers in the most recent recorded reception admissions year, which equates to about 1.89 applications per place. In plain terms, families should treat this as meaning competition is real, and you need a Plan B in the same admissions round.

The school’s published admissions guidance is clear that the application is made via the local authority common application form, rather than directly to the school.

Parents comparing multiple options can use the FindMySchoolMap Search to understand how realistic a place is from your address, and to shortlist alternatives within a workable travel radius.

Pastoral systems are described as practical and responsive. Bullying is described as rare, and pupils are encouraged to talk to trusted adults if they are worried, with staff expected to deal with concerns quickly and keep parents informed.

Safeguarding practice is treated as a whole-school responsibility, with staff training prioritised so adults can spot when a child needs help, and concerns are recorded and escalated promptly. Leaders work with local agencies, and will push for additional action when needed.

The latest Ofsted inspection, dated 2 to 3 November 2022, graded the school Good overall, with Good judgements across quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

Enrichment is framed as an entitlement rather than a reward, and the school describes a broad set of experiences pupils should access over time, from performances and competitions to visits, visitors, and swimming.

Two distinctive examples stand out from published material:

Mini Vinnies

a pupil group built around service and practical action, linked to the St Vincent de Paul Society. For families who value faith expressed through charitable work, this makes Catholic social teaching feel concrete for children.

Teesside Trailblazers

the school participated in this Middlesbrough FC campaign, using academy coaches and pupil discussion to translate anti-racism work into a whole-school charter. The implication is that personal development is handled through structured projects, not only assemblies.

Sport and physical activity are treated as part of normal provision, with pupils’ playtimes organised to increase participation, and pupils expected to learn how to share space, referee games, and include others.

The compulsory school day runs with gates open from 8:45am to 9:00am, and a 3:15pm finish for Reception to Year 6. Nursery sessions are published as 8:30am to 11:30am (morning) and 12:15pm to 3:15pm (afternoon). Wraparound provision is published as starting at 7:45am, with after-school provision finishing at 5:45pm.

For travel, most families plan around local driving and walking routes to Redcar Road, with drop-off and pick-up patterns shaped by year-group routines. If you rely on public transport, it is worth testing the journey at school-run times, as reliability and connection time matter more than distance.

• Competition for places: With 17 applications for 9 offers in the recorded year, demand outstrips supply. Families should apply on time and keep a realistic shortlist of alternatives.

• High expectations can suit some children better than others: Clear routines and structured classroom practice tend to work well for pupils who like predictability, but children who need a looser approach may take longer to settle.

• Early years logistics: Nursery provision exists, but nursery fee details are not something families should rely on second-hand. For nursery costs and eligibility for funded hours, use the school’s official information and government guidance.

• Catholic life is explicit: Daily worship, liturgy, and Catholic social teaching are part of the experience. Families who want a lighter-touch faith element should weigh whether this is the right fit.

This is a Catholic primary with an unusually strong KS2 performance profile and a clear, structured approach to behaviour and learning. It suits families who want faith to be visible in daily school life, and who value measured academic stretch as well as a well organised early years start. Entry remains the main limiting factor, so treat admissions planning as seriously as you treat the school choice itself.