St Joseph's Catholic Academy is a mainstream secondary school in Hebburn, South Tyneside, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 225 of its 1,377 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 27 (2%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,377 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in South Tyneside.
16.3% get SEN support
225 of 1,377 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
2% have an EHC plan
27 of 1,377 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 health90
- Autism51
- Moderate learning difficulty38
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia34
- Speech, language and communication20
- Physical disability9
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
- 1,377 (places for 1,490)
- Headteacher
- Mr James Crowe (Executive Headteacher)
- Part of
- Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust
- Faith
- Roman Catholic
- Free school meals
- 20.2% of pupils eligible
- Council
- South Tyneside
- School reference (URN)
- 139878
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 South 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, September 2022
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in September 2022.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
Mill Lane, Hebburn, NE31 2ET
Loading the map…
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
- Hebburn Lakes Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- West Walker Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Good 1.0 mile
- Keelman's Way School Special school · Ages 2–19 · Ofsted: Good 1.1 miles
- Sir Charles Parsons School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Toner Avenue Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 20.1%, EHC plans 1.8% 0.2 miles
- Bill Quay Primary School Primary · Ages 2–11 · SEN support 9.1%, EHC plans 0.8% 0.5 miles
- St James' Catholic Primary School, Hebburn Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 16.3%, EHC plans 3.1% 0.6 miles
All mainstream schools in South Tyneside SEND schools in South Tyneside
Questions about St Joseph's Catholic Academy
How many pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Academy have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 225 of the 1,377 pupils (16.3%) were getting SEN support and 27 (2%) 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 Joseph's Catholic Academy?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (90 pupils), autism (51 pupils) and moderate learning difficulties (38 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at St Joseph's Catholic Academy?
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 Joseph's Catholic Academy?
Through South 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 Joseph's Catholic Academy?
You can ask for St Joseph's Catholic Academy 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 Joseph's Catholic Academy 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 Hebburn Lakes Primary School, about 0.9 miles away.
Where is St Joseph's Catholic Academy?
Mill Lane, Hebburn, NE31 2ET, in South 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.