Celebrating exceptional A-Level and Vocational success across our Trust family
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
There has been great pride across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust as we celebrate the incredible A-Level and applied vocational results of our Year 13 students.
Across our family of schools, our young people have demonstrated remarkable dedication, resilience, and faith. We are incredibly proud to see them securing places at some of the country’s top universities, highly sought-after degree apprenticeships, and taking their first steps into employment.
At St Cuthbert's, the mission to form "great men" of competence, conscience, compassion, and commitment has shone through in another year of excellent results.
A fantastic 30% of all A-Level grades were awarded at A or A*, while more than half of all grades achieved were between A* and B. The school also celebrated tremendous vocational success, with 53.5% of grades awarded at Distinction or above.
Among the highest achievers, 10 students secured at least three grades at A to A*, while 14 achieved AAB or better. These outstanding outcomes have enabled students to progress to an impressive range of destinations, including the University of Cambridge, Durham University, and the Royal College of Music.
Headmaster Dan Murray expressed his immense pride in the cohort: "Today's results are a wonderful achievement for our students and a fitting reward for their hard work and commitment. We are proud not only of their academic success, but of the great young men they have become through their time at St Cuthbert's."
Head of Sixth Form Matt Turner added that the results "reflect the ambition and perseverance of our students, as well as the strong sense of brotherhood and belonging within the Sixth Form."
Meanwhile over in Fenham, our students and staff at Sacred Heart Catholic High School were also celebrating exceptionally good results that served as a true testament to the commitment of our girls and the teachers who taught them.
The school saw an impressive number of girls achieve a combination of A* and A grades, securing places on high-tariff courses at some of the best universities in the country, including Oxford, Durham, Edinburgh, as well as competitive medical schools.
Success was equally strong across vocational courses, with students achieving the highest Distinction* grades and going on to study Law, nursing, midwifery, and optometry. Coupled with this, several students will be starting legal apprenticeships, including a highly prestigious degree apprenticeship with Sintons Solicitors.
Suzanne Howell, Headteacher at Sacred Heart, expressed her immense pride: "Huge congratulations to all our Year 13 students who have shown incredible dedication and resilience, working so hard over the last two years. We are enormously proud of you all.
"At Sacred Heart we are ambitious for all our students and want them to have the best opportunities for their future lives. These excellent results will open doors to the careers and the futures our students aspire to."
The celebrations continued at St Thomas More, where excellent figures across the board reflect a highly dedicated cohort and workforce. An amazing 55% of A-Level grades were awarded A* to B, with 25% at A* or A, and 7% achieving the top A*. Individual performances were remarkable, with six students achieving four A* or A grades, and 14 students achieving three A* or A grades.
The school's applied vocational courses saw similarly excellent outcomes, with a third of all Applied Grades awarded a Distinction* or Distinction, and eight students achieving two or more of these top-tier grades.
Headteacher David Watson emphasised the collaborative environment that made these outcomes possible. “We're delighted with these excellent results which are fully deserved for a great year group. It's brilliant that our students are now going to be moving on to the next part of their lives whether that's to university, higher level apprenticeship or employment.
“The results are a testament to the students' tremendous efforts along with the skill and dedication of our teachers and pastoral staff at St Thomas More.”
At St Mary’s Catholic School, Year 13 students recorded another year of exceptional academic and vocational success. More than 20 students achieved at least three A or A* grades, or Distinction and Distinction* grades across their Level 3 qualifications, with many more securing strong results across their chosen subjects.
These achievements have enabled students to progress to leading Russell Group and top-tier institutions, including the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, University College London, Edinburgh, Durham, Manchester, and Leeds.
Students are stepping onto highly competitive degree pathways, such as Engineering, Natural Sciences, Medicine, Law, Artificial Intelligence, Economics and Mathematics, Pharmacy, Architecture, Optometry, and Social Work, while others are embarking on valuable apprenticeships and employment.
Headteacher Emma Patterson said: “We are enormously proud of every one of our Year 13 students. These results are the culmination of years of sustained effort, and our young people have approached their studies with remarkable determination, maturity and resilience..
"Today is an opportunity to celebrate how much our students have grown and all that they have contributed to the life of St Mary’s. They leave us as confident, compassionate and ambitious young adults, ready to use their gifts and talents.”
In Bedlington, students and staff at St Benet Biscop Catholic Academy celebrated a fantastic set of results that continued the sustained improvement seen at the school in recent years.
The academy achieved an impressive 97% overall pass rate, with 23% of entries awarded A* or A grades, and 68% awarded A* to C. Furthermore, an incredible 95% of students secured their first-choice university placement.
Among the top individual achievers were Megan Myerscough (AAA), who is going to Durham University to study History; Beth McDermott (AAB), who holds an offer for Psychology at Manchester University; and Thomas Routledge (AAB), who is heading to Newcastle University to study Chemical Engineering.
Headteacher Suzanne Lewis-Dale said: “We are incredibly proud of our students here at St Benet Biscop as they receive their A Level and Vocational results today. These achievements are a testament to their hard work, determination and resilience throughout their studies living out our RISE values.
"We recognise and celebrate not only the excellent results achieved, but also the personal growth, character and perseverance our students have shown along the way.”
As a Trust, we are incredibly proud of all our Year 13 leavers. They move forward not only with outstanding qualifications but with the character, compassion, and Catholic values that will help them make a positive difference in the world.
Dan Murray continued: "This year's results are also a celebration of the distinctive mission of Catholic education. At St Cuthbert's, academic excellence is rooted in a commitment to helping every young man discover and develop his God-given gifts.
"As Pope Leo XIV writes in Drawing New Maps of Hope, Christian educational communities 'do not build walls, but bridges,' forming young people who are equipped to face the future with faith, wisdom and hope.
"The achievements of the Class of 2026 reflect not only academic success, but also growth in character, service and faith as they prepare to take their place in the world."
Congratulations to the Class of 2026, their families, and our dedicated teaching and pastoral staff across the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust family.
