Welcome from the HeadteacherAdmissions
Guidance on the admissions process at St Leonard’s.
St Leonard’s Catholic School was founded by the Catholic Church to provide education for children of Catholic families. The school is conducted by its governing body as part of the Catholic Church in accordance with its trust deed and instrument of government and seeks at all times to be a witness to Jesus Christ. Whenever there are more applications than places available, priority will be given to Catholic children in accordance with the oversubscription criteria listed below.
As a Catholic school, we aim to provide a Catholic education for all our pupils. At a Catholic school, Catholic doctrine and practice permeate every aspect of the school’s activity. It is essential that the Catholic character of the school’s education be fully supported by all families in the school. We therefore hope that all parents (see note 10) will give their full, unreserved and positive support for the aims and ethos of the school. This does not affect the right of an applicant who is not Catholic to apply for and be admitted to a place at the school in accordance with the admission arrangements.
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is the admissions authority and is responsible for determining the admission policy. The local authority coordinates the admissions process on behalf of the Trust. The administration and operation of the admission policy is delegated by the Trust to the Local Governing Committee.
Policies and documents in relation to admissions can all be found on our policies page linked below.
Feeder primary schools
- Our Lady Queen of Martyrs’ Catholic Primary, Newhouse, Durham Road, Esh Winning, Durham, DH7 9PA
- St Bede’s Catholic Primary, Sacriston, Front Street, Sacriston, Durham, DH7 6AB
- St Benet’s Catholic Primary, St Benet’s Way, Ouston, Chester-le-Street, DH2 1QX
- St Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary, Chester-le-Street, Ropery Lane, Chester-le-Street, DH3 3PH
- St Godric’s Catholic Primary, Durham, Carrhouse Drive, Durham, DH1 5LZ
- St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Durham, Mill Lane, Gilesgate, Durham, DH1 2JQ
- St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, Ushaw Moor, Durham Road, Ushaw Moor, Durham, DH7 7LF
- St Michael’s Catholic Primary, Esh Laude, Esh Village, Esh, Durham, DH7 9QW
- St Patrick’s Catholic Primary, Langley Moor, Goatbeck Terrace, Langley Moor, Durham, DH7 8JJ
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary, Thorndale Road, Cheveley Park, Belmont, DH1 2AQ
Although these are our feeder primary schools, children form non-feeder primaries, including non-Catholic schools, can also apply for places at St Leonard’s.
| Page Views | 4037
Updated | 9th September, 2024 |
Latest News
Catholic Schools Inspection
It is a pleasure to share with you the outcome of our recent Catholic School Inspection. It is a credit to the entire community – families, pupils, staff and our parishes – to be graded ‘Outstanding across all areas’. You can read the report here and an accompanying letter from Mr Simmons here.
Published: November 6, 2025
The Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is an exempt charity. It is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales under company registration number 07890590. The registered office address is Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education HQ, Barmston Court, Turbine Business Park, Nissan Way, Washington, SR5 3NY.
