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 (referred to locally as "EMS" and "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,Saints and sinners , G. Hall, 2005. 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'sHartlepool, Northeast England, 1885–1985 , Sr Bernadette Cassidy FCJ. and the St Francis site which was closed down in 1985.Details about English Martyrs Rc Comprehensive School And 6Th Form College, Hartlepool History Then and Now.org,

List of previous headmasters Previous headmasters include:A celebration of school’s 40 years , 2 July 2013. Canon John Bell (1973-1980). Bell was the first headmaster of English Martyrs, having previously been headmaster of the subsumed St Francis Grammar School.Former student to give school talk , Hartlepool Mail, 18 February 2014. David Relton (1980-1995) Joseph Hughes (1995-2010Say it ain't so, Joe , Sunderland Echo, 17 May 2010. Michael Lee (2010–2015). 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.Hartlepool headteacher to retire after serving English Martyrs for four decades , Hartlepool Mail, 10 July 2015. Stephen Hammond (2015–2021) Sara Crawshaw (2021–2024) Colette Hogarth (2024–2025) Andrew Rodgers (Executive Headteacher 2025–Present) Glenn Thompson (Head of School 2025–Present)

Statistics The following statistics are summarised from the following Evening Gazette,Teesside school ratings: The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool, Lee Madison, Gazette Live, 30 September 2013.The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Gazette Live, 23 July 2014The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Hartlepool, Gazette Live, 31 July 2015.The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, Gazette Live, 1 July 2016 Northern EchoThe English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College , The Northern Echo, 2014 and BBC News articles.The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College, BBC News, 13 January 2010 National averages are given in (italics) after the school's score.

Year Number of children on the school roll % eligible for free school meals Value added score Ratio of pupils to teachers Total 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 education A/AS-Level performance (points) 2014-15 1,520 11.7% (13.9%) 1011.9 (1000) 14.1 (15) - (5,944) - - 4.2% (5.4%) 96.2% (90.2%) - 2013-14 1,559 13.3% (15.7%) 993.7 (1000) 14 (15) 5,577 (5,856) 1% 62% (56.6%) 5% (5.3%) - - 2012-13 1,638 13.2% (16.3%) 1000.3 (1000) 14.9 (15.5) 5,677 (5,848) 1% 83% (59.2%) 5.53% (6.4%) 88.9% (88.3%) - 2011-12 1,665 12.4% (16%) 995.5 (1000) 15 (15.6) 5,438 (6,058) 1% 68% (59.4%) 9.4% (6.8%) 90.6% (86%) - 2010-11 1,700 - 997 (1000) 14.5 (16.3) 5,338 (5,051) 1% 72% (59%) 9.3% (9.5%) 91% (86%) - 2009-10 - - - - 4,945 (5,492) 1% 51% (53.5%) 3.7% (4.2%) 90.7% (84.7%) - 2008-9 - - 990.1 (1000) - - - 66% (49.8%) 2.6% (5.9%) - 793.2 (739.1) 2007-8 - - - - - - 51% (47.6%) - - 820.3 (740) 2006-7 - - - - - - 54% (46.3%) - - 789.7 (731.2) 2005-6 - - - - - - 51% (45.6%) - - 773.7 (721.5)

Gazette ratings Date Overallscore Overallrating Rank / out ofx state schools Local rank Attainment Teaching Behaviour Attendance Outcomes July 2016 61.10 637 / 3,109 1 - July 2015 48.18 1,569 / 3,123 12 - July 2014 58.72 809 2 - September 2013 55.37 1,194 / 3,079 1 -

Ofsted ratings Date School part Overalleffectiveness Outcomes, Achievement/and standards Behaviour andsafety Personal development and well being Quality of provision/teaching Leadership and management 17 May 2017The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College School Report, Ofsted, 17–18 May 2017 School Overall Requires Improvement Requires Improvement Good Requires Improvement Requires Improvement Sixth Form Good - - - - - 25 January 2012The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 25 January 2012 School Overall Good Good Good - Good Good 18 March 2009The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 18–19 March 2009 School Overall Good Good - Outstanding Good Good Sixth Form Outstanding Outstanding - Outstanding Outstanding Outstanding 5 October 2000The English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College Inspection report, Ofsted, 5 October 2000 School Overall Good Good - Outstanding Good Good Sixth Form Good Satisfactory - Outstanding Good Good

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 Guest School Show John Bell Lecturer Headteacher 2017 TBA AnnieAnnie Auditions TBA Stephen Hammond 2016 Craig HignettJAN AWARDS EVENING 2016 (LIVE BLOG) Little Shop of Horrors Tony Green, former Royal Marine and Police OfficerJOHN BELL LECTURE 2017 2015 Gary Pallister The Sound of Music Michael Lee, former-headmaster of the school (2010–2015) 2014 Jeff Stelling The Wizard of Oz Daniel Robinson, Alumnus and only non-American to have flown the F-22 Raptor fighter jet. Michael Lee 2013 Graham Onions Jesus Christ Superstar David Eagle, Alumnus and member of the sea shanty band the Young UnsParents Bulletin February 2014 , English Martyrs School, February 2014 2012 Stuart Whincup, BBC Look North, with special guest Savannah Marshall. Beauty and the Beast Chris Joseph, Alumnus and autobiographer 2011 Tony Mowbray We Will Rock You Jez Lowe, Alumnus and folk musicianFolk singer a smash hit , hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 9 May 2012 2010 Séamus Cunningham, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Les MisérablesShow goes on for students , 23 November 2010. Anne, Tony and Declan StokleTalk by Burma campaign family , peterleestar.co.uk, 10 March 2011 2009 Philippa Gregory Oliver! Father Phil Marsh"Students inspired by global leader" , hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 12 March 2010 Joe Hughes 2008 Wendy Gibson, BBC Look North Grease Joy Yates, Editor of the Hartlepool MailMail editor to be guest speaker at school , hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 2 March 2009 2007 Peter Beardsley MBE Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 2006 Jonny Wilkinson OBE Bugsy Malone Chris Gorman OBE, Alumnus and entrepreneur 2005 Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle The WizWaiting for sentence , hartlepoolmail.co.uk, 16 November 2005 2004 Lord Puttnam CBE FRSA Little Shop of Horrors 2003 Lord Alton of Liverpool 2002 Lady Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE 2001 Niall Quinn 2000 Simon Weston OBE 1999 Philip Madoc 1998 Kevin Whately Ann Widdecombe DSG PC, Shadow Home Secretary 1997 Tessa Sanderson CBE 1996 Ronnie Corbett CBE 1995 Bob Holness Journey to the Center of the EarthSLIDESHOW: Rolling back the years for English Martyrs School’s birthday treat , 11 July 2013, hartlepoolmail.co.uk 1994 Sir Ron Norman OBE DL and Lady Norman David Relton 1993 Susan Cunliffe-Lister, Countess of Swinton DSG DL Baroness Masham of Ilton 1992 Ambrose Griffiths, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle Peter Mandelson PC, MP for HartlepoolJohn Bell Lecture 2013.jpg 1991 Jeremy Beadle MBE 1990 Frank Carson KSG The Boy Friend 1989 Sir John Hall Oklahoma! 1988 Sir Cyril Smith MBE 1987 Peter Egan 1986 Cardinal Basil Hume 1985 Major Sir Denis Thatcher MBE TD My Fair Lady 1984 David Bellamy OBE Calamity Jane 1983 Brian Clough OBE 1982 Lord Longford KG PC 1981 Miles Fitzalan-Howard, 17th Duke of Norfolk 1980 New creation. 1979 John Bell 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 School founded.

Notable alumni

Paul Arnison, former professional footballer with over 350 professional appearances Lewis Cope, actor and dancer Pete Donaldson, radio presenter and podcast host Kieran Bew, TV, film and stage actor. Kieran attended alongside his brother Duncan who works as a doctor at King's College Hospital. Matthew Dolan, professional footballer whose former clubs include Middlesbrough, Hartlepool United and Bradford City Janick Gers, guitarist in Iron Maiden who opened the school's new music block in 2007 Michael Gough, retired cricketer and cricket umpire (umpire of the year 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015) Peter Hartley, retired professional footballer and former Hartlepool United captain Michael Hunter, British, European and Commonwealth Bantamweight Boxing Champion Andy Linighan, retired professional footballer and scorer of the winning goal in the 1993 FA Cup Final who attended along with his brothers who were also footballers, Brian Linighan and David Linighan. Jemma Lowe, Olympic swimmer Savannah Marshall, Olympic boxer and boxing world champion Philip Middlemiss, actor and businessman Professor Gerard Parkin FRSC, Professor of Chemistry, Columbia University Kevin Walsh, Paralympic swimming bronze medallist

References

External links Official School Website