St James’ Primary’s head says excellent results are down to ‘hard work and dedication’ 

A close-knit primary school, which goes “above and beyond” for its pupils, is celebrating outstanding SATs results reflecting the “hard work, dedication and commitment” of the whole school community.

St James’ Catholic Primary School, part of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust, is a one-form-entry Catholic school with a new nursery, which will open in January. The new Early Years provision was named Little Shells by the pupils as a symbol associated with St James and his travels to Spain.

The primary school, in Hebburn, has achieved results that are 8% above the national average overall and even more impressively, St James is 16% above the national average in maths and 15% above the national average in reading.

These outstanding achievements are made even more special for the whole school community as the school was one of 231 schools affected by the RAAC crisis in 2023. St James, along with schools up and down the country, were forced to close by the government due to RAAC (reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete). Throughout the closure, the school continued to provide high-quality face-to-face education to all its pupils until they could safely return to their own school.

The school staff’s commitment to ensure that the children and young people in their charge “feel valued and cared for” was highlighted by inspectors during a recent Catholic Schools Inspectorate visit. The school was rated ‘Outstanding’ in Catholic life and mission, and ‘Good’ overall. 

The primary school, on Solway Road, has also achieved the Live Simply Award, which alongside the various Mini Vinnies and Faith in Action initiatives, provides pupils with “purposeful leadership opportunities” too. This week, the school announced it has also achieved the highest Artsmark accreditation of Gold, which recognises its creativity and commitment to the arts curriculum in school.

Headteacher Francesca Heslop said: “We are thrilled to celebrate our outstanding recent performance results, which reflect the hard work, dedication and commitment of our entire school community. These achievements highlight the strength of our teaching, the support of our families, and the determination of our children to aim high and succeed.

“I am immensely proud of our pupils and staff for these outstanding SATs results, which are an incredible testament to their perseverance and enthusiasm for learning. Their hard work, resilience, and commitment to learning have truly shone through. 

“As a Catholic community, we strive to nurture every child’s potential, and these achievements are a testament to that mission.” 

Mrs Heslop added: “We celebrate not just the results, but the dedication, teamwork, and faith that helped us reach this moment.”

A parent of a St James’ pupil said: “St James has provided exceptional academic support for all three of my children and consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to student enrichment and wellbeing.

“Staff go above and beyond to make sure that every child feels a sense of belonging, valued and motivated to do their best. There is a genuine family feel within the school community and children are taught to show kindness, respect and compassion to one another, in keeping with the Catholic ethos.”

Reception places are available for September 2026. The deadline for applications is 4.30pm on Thursday, 15th January. 

For more information about St James’ Catholic Primary School, visit www.stjameshebburn.co.uk

For more information about BCCET, visit www.bccet.org.uk

ENDS

Photo caption: Pupils at St James’ Catholic Primary School celebrate above-average grades.


Press release issued by SASS media on behalf of Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust. For more information, contact Sarah Dale on 07814 976582.