About | St Catherine's Catholic Primary School

About St Catherine's

Welcome to St Catherine’s, a joyful, inclusive and ambitious primary school at the heart of Sandyford, Newcastle upon Tyne, where every child is encouraged to let their light shine and set the world on fire.

St Catherine’s is a purposeful and uplifting school community shaped by faith, curiosity and compassion. Rooted in Gospel values, and guided by our commitment to kindness, dignity and service, we combine academic aspiration with a deep understanding of the whole child. Here, pupils develop a love of learning, confidence in who they are, and the courage to share their gifts with the world.

Our families describe St Catherine’s as a “school family”, and this is truly at the heart of who we are. With 20+ languages spoken and pupils from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, we proudly reflect the richness of our local community. Children at St Catherine’s learn to listen and be kind, to celebrate difference, and to grow in empathy and respect.

Our staff are dedicated, attentive and enthusiastic. They take great pride in knowing every child well and ensuring that each pupil feels seen, supported and understood. Teaching is engaging and responsive, and our pastoral care is grounded in warm relationships, close communication with families, and a culture where every child’s wellbeing is a shared responsibility. Expectations for behaviour, kindness and effort are high across the school. From Nursery to Year 6, children are enabled to flourish, encouraged and celebrated, and they are guided to think deeply, act wisely and grow with joy.

St Catherine’s is a truly special place, and we warmly invite you to come and experience it for yourself. We would be delighted to welcome you for a visit and answer any questions you may have. To find out more about joining St Catherine’s, please visit our Admissions page.

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OUr Story

Late 1800's

St Dominic’s Primary School Opens

In the late nineteenth century, St Dominic’s Parish opened a school beside the church, known as St Dominic’s Primary School, serving local families with dedication and care.

Pre 1960's

Dominican Sisters at The Minories, Jesmond

Meanwhile, in Jesmond, an order of Dominican Sisters lived at The Minories, near the Cradlewell. Their community included a convent and a small preparatory school for boys, rooted in the Dominican tradition of learning and truth.

Late 1960's

Road Development Require the Sisters to Move

In the late 1960s, the city council planned a major new road. This required the Dominican Sisters to move from The Minories, and they were allocated a new site to rebuild their convent and boys’ preparatory school.
(Incidentally, the road that the council moved the convent for - the Cradlewell Bypass - was not completed until the 1990s.)

Early 1970's

St Catherine’s Convent and Preparatory School Built

A new St Catherine’s Convent and boys’ preparatory school were constructed on the Sisters’ new site.

September 1973

St Catherine's RC Primary Opens

The newly named St Catherine’s RC Primary School opened on its present site. The building has been adapted and extended over the years, but its spacious grounds remain a defining feature.The official approval to change the use of the building was signed by the Education Secretary at the time, Margaret Thatcher.

1973 - 1984

Headteacher: Mr Watson

Mr Watson served as the first Headteacher following the school’s opening in 1973.

1984 - 1995

Headteacher: Miss Martin (later Mrs Burns)

Miss Martin, later Mrs Burns, became Headteacher in 1984 and served until 1995.

1995

Building Adaptations

In 1995, one of the adaptations which took place was the modernisation of the girls’ toilets: wall urinals were removed and the number of cubicles increased from two to five! This took place 22 years after the building first housed both girls and boys.

1995 - 2022

Headteacher: Mr Ewing

Mr Ewing was appointed Headteacher in 1995 and served at St Catherine’s until December 2022.

2021

St Catherine’s Becomes an Academy within BBCET

St Catherine’s reopened as an academy under its full name, St Catherine’s Catholic Primary School, and became part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust. This followed the 2019 Diocesan Academy Policy (Catholic Education Trusts in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle) to protect, strengthen, and secure the future of Catholic education across the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, with all schools joining one of four Catholic Education Trusts. As a BBCET school, St Catherine’s continues to be supported in its mission to provide the very best education, rooted in Catholic values, while maintaining the unique character and community spirit that has always defined our school.

January 2023

Headteacher: Ms Hoey

Ms Hoey was appointed Headteacher in January 2023 and continues to lead the school.

2025

New School Logo Introduced

The school introduced a new logo created using ideas from every year group. The shield shape was retained to honour the Dominican heritage, while the updated design features open hands, a golden cross radiating light, and the mottoes “let your light shine” and “set the world on fire”. These elements reflect the school’s values and the contribution of its pupils.The original badge featured the black and white Dominican cross and the word Veritas, meaning “Truth”.

Foundation Statements

These are our core aims agreed by the whole school community and which provide the context to our school’s work.

Ethos: We will create an environment in which Gospel values are understood and lived out. The contributions and presence of all are valued and celebrated.

Teaching Goal: Our teaching is a creative, energetic reflective process which inspires children and matches their needs.

Learning Goal: We will provide purposeful, enjoyable opportunities for pupils (and the whole school community) to develop the skills with which to understand and shape their world.

Leadership and Management: We will provide a clear vision matched with supportive action which enables the growth of all staff towards a shared sense of purpose, direction and responsibility.

Performance Standards: We will achieve context-specific excellence which encourages the development of the whole child.

Pupils: We will develop happy, confident, independent, self-actualising children.

Learning Environment: Learning will be encouraged by providing colourful, stimulating, well-planned spaces adapted to the needs of the learners.

School Community: We aspire to become a lifelong learning community which works together for the common good and reaches outward to the wider community as a model of tolerance, equality, mutual respect and partnership.

Resources and Budget: We will use allocated resources effectively and transparently, matched with agreed priorities, whilst actively exploring alternative resources and/or income.

Curriculum: We will provide a rich, varied, innovative and engaging curriculum delivered using flexible, differentiated methods which recognizes the equality and diversity of learners.

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Our School

About St Catherine's