The 2025/26 school year has officially begun and whilst National Offer Day may feel like a lifetime away, it was a tense time for many families and unfortunately, not all children received the school allocation they had wished for.
The latest data from the Department of Education shows how hard it was to get a place at South Tyneside’s secondary schools.
Mortimer Community College, on Reading Road, in South Shields, appeared to be the hardest to get into, based on the number of times it was selected as a first preference against the number of first choice offers given out.
Take a look below at how South Tyneside’s secondary schools rank, based on how difficult they are to get a first place at.
5. St Joseph's Catholic Academy, Hebburn
254 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 238 first choice offers were handed out, meaning it has a success rate of 93.7%. | Google Maps
6. Whitburn Church of England Academy, Whitburn
188 pupils put this school as their first choice but only 187 first choice offers were handed out, meaning it has a success rate of 99.46%. | Google Maps
7. St Wilfrid's RC College, South Shields
166 pupils put this school as their first choice with 166 first choice offers were handed out, meaning it has a success rate of 100%. | Google Maps
8. Boldon School, Boldon Colliery
138 pupils put this school as their first choice and 138 first choice offers were handed out, meaning it has a success rate of 100%. | Google Maps