How many pupils attend St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College?

St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College has 891 pupils on roll.

What ages does St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College take?

St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

How do I apply to St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College?

St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

Does St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College have a religious character?

Yes — St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College has a religious character of Roman Catholic. Faith criteria may apply to admissions; check the school's oversubscription policy for details.

How are Year 7 places decided at St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College?

When St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Catholic looked after and previously looked after children — Catholic looked after and previously looked after children; 2. Catholic children at a Catholic feeder primary school — Catholic Children who attend a Catholic feeder primary school; 3. Other Catholic children — Other Catholic children, and 7 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Where there are places for some but not all applicants within a criterion, priority is given to children living closest to the school by shortest walking-route distance (GIS-measured on the Ordnance Survey ITN/UPN from the centre point of the child's house to the nearest school site entrance). If distances are equal for two or more children where this would determine the last place, random allocation is carried out in a public place, supervised by a person independent of the school.

What is the largest ethnic background at St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 87.8% of pupils at St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College are recorded as White British. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College

School AtlasCounty Durham

County Durham

School AtlasCounty Durham

County Durham

How places are decided at St Bede's Catholic School and Byron Sixth Form College

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Catholic looked after and previously looked after children — Catholic looked after and previously looked after children.
2Catholic children at a Catholic feeder primary school — Catholic Children who attend a Catholic feeder primary school.
3Other Catholic children — Other Catholic children.
4Other looked after and previously looked after children — Other looked after and previously looked after children.
5Catechumens and Eastern Christian Church members — Catechumens and members of an Eastern Christian Church.
6Other children at a Catholic feeder primary school — Other children who attend a Catholic feeder primary school.
7Football aptitude — Up to 18 children to be admitted on football aptitude as determined by Fast Feet.
8Other Christian denominations — Children of other Christian denominations whose membership is evidenced by a minister or faith leader.
9Other faiths — Children of other faiths whose membership is evidenced by a minister or faith leader.
10Any other children — Any other children.

If two applications tie: Where there are places for some but not all applicants within a criterion, priority is given to children living closest to the school by shortest walking-route distance (GIS-measured on the Ordnance Survey ITN/UPN from the centre point of the child's house to the nearest school site entrance). If distances are equal for two or more children where this would determine the last place, random allocation is carried out in a public place, supervised by a person independent of the school.

Within each numbered category, two further provisions apply in order: (i) evidence of an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need moves an application to the top of its category; (ii) a sibling already attending the school at time of enrolment then moves an application to the top of its category (after (i) cases). Admission authority is the Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. Note 6 separately states 'up to 50 places available in total' for football aptitude, which is not reconciled in the document with the 'up to 18' figure given in criterion 7 for this admission round — both figures are printed as-is. Non-Catholic applicants may apply and be admitted under the arrangements. Children with an EHCP naming the school are admitted first by law via a separate procedure, reducing places available under these arrangements; not counted here as a numbered criterion.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.