English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College


The English Martyrs Catholic School and Sixth Form College is a secondary school and sixth form college located in Hartlepool with academy status. English Martyrs is the only Catholic secondary school in Hartlepool. The school and college are both located on the same site on Catcote Road, however, a newly built specialist sixth form block provides the majority of A-Level classes, as well as some 11–16 school lessons.

History

St Joseph's Convent School was founded in 1885, and became a direct grant grammar school following the Education Act of 1944.
St Francis RC Grammar School was opened in 1956, and two new secondary schools, St Bede's for boys and St Anne's for girls, were opened in 1963.
St Peter's secondary modern school opened in King Oswy Drive in 1960 replacing St Bega's school. The school had approximately 200 students and the headmasters were Timothy McCarthy, followed by Robert Garraghan.
In 1973, the national policy of Comprehensive education led to all the Catholic secondary schools in the town being merged as the English Martyrs' Comprehensive School. These were St Anne's, St Bede's, St Francis', St Joseph's and St Peter's schools, each of which is represented by a star on the school badge. The new site was the buildings of St Bede's and St Anne's and the St Francis site which was closed down in 1985.

List of previous headmasters

Previous headmasters include:
  1. Canon John Bell. Bell was the first headmaster of English Martyrs, having previously been headmaster of the subsumed St Francis Grammar School.
  2. David Relton
  3. Joseph Hughes. Lee began his career at English Martyrs teaching history in 1977. Before being appointed head in September 2010, he had been head of sixth form and deputy headteacher.
  4. Stephen Hammond
  5. Sara Crawshaw
  6. Colette Hogarth
  7. Andrew Rodgers
  8. Glenn Thompson

Statistics

The following statistics are summarised from the following Evening Gazette, Northern Echo and BBC News articles.
National averages are given in after the school's score.
YearNumber of children on the school roll% eligible for free school mealsValue added scoreRatio of pupils to teachersTotal school spend per pupil / £Budget spent on supply staff% Gaining 5 A*-C GCSEs incl. English and Maths% of pupils persistent / missing 15%+ of sessions% of pupils staying on in any educationA/AS-Level performance
2014-151,52011.7% 1011.9 14.1 - --4.2% 96.2% -
2013-141,55913.3% 993.7 14 5,577 1%62% 5% --
2012-131,63813.2% 1000.3 14.9 5,677 1%83% 5.53% 88.9% -
2011-121,66512.4% 995.5 15 5,438 1%68% 9.4% 90.6% -
2010-111,700-997 14.5 5,338 1%72% 9.3% 91% -
2009-10----4,945 1%51% 3.7% 90.7% -
2008-9--990.1 ---66% 2.6% -793.2
2007-8------51% --820.3
2006-7------54% --789.7
2005-6------51% --773.7

Intake

Main school

The majority of secondary school students come from 6 feeder primary schools:

Sixth form

  • Pupils who obtain 5 grade Cs or better at GCSE can choose any Level 3 course i.e. an A Level or an Applied A Level course
  • Pupils who obtain 4 grade Cs or above at GCSE are advised to follow a double award Applied A Level course, plus additional AS subject/s
  • Pupils who obtain fewer than 4 grade Cs at GCSE are advised to follow a Level 2 course – either the BTEC First Diploma in Business or in Health and Social Care

Annual school events

Annual awards evening principal guests 1981-2012

A tradition of the school since 1981 where awards are given to students of both the school and sixth form college. Recognition is given to achievement at GCSE, 'A' level and GNVQ levels."

Annual John Bell Lecture

This once-a-year lecture is usually given around March in the school's St Anne's hall. The lecture is in honour of Canon John Bell, the last headmaster of St Francis and the first headmaster of the new English Martyrs school.

Principal guests, school shows and John Bell Lecturers

Academic
Year Start		Awards Evening Principal GuestSchool ShowJohn Bell LecturerHeadteacher
2017TBAAnnieTBAStephen Hammond
2016Craig HignettLittle Shop of HorrorsTony Green, former Royal Marine and Police OfficerStephen Hammond
2015Gary PallisterThe Sound of MusicMichael Lee, former-headmaster of the school Stephen Hammond
2014Jeff StellingThe [Wizard of Oz (2011 musical)|The Wizard of Oz]Daniel Robinson, Alumnus and only non-American to have flown the F-22 Raptor fighter jet.Michael Lee
2013Graham OnionsJesus Christ SuperstarDavid Eagle, Alumnus and member of the sea shanty band the Young UnsMichael Lee
2012Stuart Whincup, BBC Look North, with special guest Savannah Marshall.Beauty and the BeastChris Joseph, Alumnus and autobiographerMichael Lee
2011Tony MowbrayWe Will Rock YouJez Lowe, Alumnus and folk musicianMichael Lee
2010Séamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and NewcastleLes MisérablesAnne, Tony and Declan StokleMichael Lee
2009Philippa GregoryOliver!Father Phil MarshJoe Hughes
2008Wendy Gibson, BBC Look NorthGreaseJoy Yates, Editor of the Hartlepool MailJoe Hughes
2007Peter Beardsley MBEJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatJoe Hughes
2006Jonny Wilkinson OBEBugsy MaloneChris Gorman OBE, Alumnus and entrepreneurJoe Hughes
2005Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and NewcastleThe WizJoe Hughes
2004Lord Puttnam CBE FRSALittle Shop of HorrorsJoe Hughes
2003Lord Alton of LiverpoolJoe Hughes
2002Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson DBEJoe Hughes
2001Niall QuinnJoe Hughes
2000Simon Weston OBEJoe Hughes
1999Philip MadocJoe Hughes
1998Kevin WhatelyAnn Widdecombe DSG PC, Shadow Home SecretaryJoe Hughes
1997Tessa Sanderson CBEJoe Hughes
1996Ronnie Corbett CBEJoe Hughes
1995Bob HolnessJourney to the Center of the EarthJoe Hughes
1994Sir Ron Norman OBE DL and Lady NormanDavid Relton
1993Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Countess of Swinton DSG DL Baroness Masham of IltonDavid Relton
1992Ambrose Griffiths, Bishop of Hexham and NewcastlePeter Mandelson PC, MP for HartlepoolDavid Relton
1991Jeremy Beadle MBEDavid Relton
1990Frank Carson KSGThe Boy FriendDavid Relton
1989Sir John HallOklahoma!David Relton
1988Sir Cyril Smith MBEDavid Relton
1987Peter EganDavid Relton
1986Cardinal Basil HumeDavid Relton
1985Major Sir Denis Thatcher MBE TDMy Fair LadyDavid Relton
1984David Bellamy OBECalamity JaneDavid Relton
1983Brian Clough OBEDavid Relton
1982Lord Longford KG PCDavid Relton
1981Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of NorfolkDavid Relton
1980New creation.David Relton
1979New creation.John Bell
1978New creation.John Bell
1977New creation.John Bell
1976New creation.John Bell
1975New creation.John Bell
1974New creation.John Bell
1973New creation.John Bell
School founded.
School founded.
School founded.
School founded.
School founded.

Notable alumni