St Thomas More Catholic High School is a mainstream secondary school in North Shields, North Tyneside, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 202 of its 1,660 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 46 (2.8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,660 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in North Tyneside.
12.2% get SEN support
202 of 1,660 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2.8% have an EHC plan
46 of 1,660 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health81
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia79
- Speech, language and communication31
- Autism27
- Moderate learning difficulty5
- Physical disability5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,660 (places for 1,650)
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Patterson
- Part of
- Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 28.4% of pupils eligible
- Council
- North Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 137734
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask North Tyneside council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, May 2023
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in May 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Lynn Road, North Shields, NE29 8LF
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Whitehouse Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Inadequate 0.4 miles
- Norham High School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Woodlawn School Special school · Ages 2–18 · Ofsted: Good 1.2 miles
- Silverdale School Special school · Ages 3–16 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- New York Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 21.7%, EHC plans 2.2% 0.4 miles
- Collingwood Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 27.5%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.7 miles
- Preston Grange Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 6%, EHC plans 1.9% 0.8 miles
All mainstream schools in North Tyneside SEND schools in North Tyneside
Questions about St Thomas More Catholic High School
How many pupils at St Thomas More Catholic High School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 202 of the 1,660 pupils (12.2%) were getting SEN support and 46 (2.8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at St Thomas More Catholic High School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (81 pupils), dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (79 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Thomas More Catholic High School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at St Thomas More Catholic High School?
Through North Tyneside council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to St Thomas More Catholic High School?
You can ask for St Thomas More Catholic High School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does St Thomas More Catholic High School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Whitehouse Primary School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is St Thomas More Catholic High School?
Lynn Road, North Shields, NE29 8LF, in North Tyneside.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.