Founded in 1912, by the Sisters of La Sagesse, it is now run by a board of governors. The premises lie on the fringe of the city overlooking Jesmond Dene. The nursery, junior and senior departments are all on a single site with 9 acres of grounds. A Christian community in the Catholic tradition, where pupils of all religious denominations are welcomed. Boys have been admitted to the junior department for some time and now also to the senior school (to Year 7 in 2007). A non-selective school with good examination results and considerable value-added pupils' achievement. Effective monitoring of pupil performance and a supportive community. Pupils paraticipate in a range of music, drama and art activities as well as a range of sports, games, clubs and societies.

Pupils: Total age range 3-18; 255 day pupils (27 boys, 228 girls). Senior department 11-18, 164 pupils. Junior intake is approximately one third boys, two thirds girls. Entrance:à Main entry ages 3, 11, 14 and 16. Own entrance exam used. Senior school intake, 20% state school entry, 70+% own junior department.

3 pa scholarships, value 50% fees. Also means-tested bursaries. Parents not expected to buy textbooks or stationery.

Headteacher: Miss Linda Clark, in post since 1994. Educated at St Joseph's Grammar School, Hebburn, and at Trinity and All Saints College and universities of Leeds and Newcastle (Spanish and education). Previously Deputy Head of St Thomas More, Head of Modern Languages at St Aidan's and in charge of Spanish at St Anselm's. Teaching staff: 25 full time, 9 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 40.

GCSE: 24 pupils in Year 11: 96% gained at least grade C in 5+ subjects. Average GCSE score 63 (62 over 3 years). A-levels: 26 in upper sixth. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 362.

All sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (7% after a gap year), 10% to Oxbridge. On average 12% take courses in medicine, dentistry and veterinary science, 13% in science and engineering, 9% in law, 33% in humanities and social sciences, 6% in art and design, 18% in other vocational courses (eg radiotherapy, physiotherapy), 9% in eg travel, tourism, drama.

GCSE, AS and A-levels. 15 AS-level subjects, 13 A-level. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies is not taken. Vocational: Work experience Year 10. Languages: French and Spanish offered to GCSE, AS and A-level. Regular visits to France and Spain. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum. New ICT suite in juniors and seniors, all computers networked with email and internet access.

Music: Up to 25% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 5 musical groups including choirs, orchestra, clarinet group, flute group. Drama and dance: Both offered. Some 33% of pupils are involved in school productions and majority in house/other productions; designated performing arts suite. Art and design: Design and textiles offered.

Sport:àHockey, netball, tennis, rounders, badminton, volleyball, squash compulsory; optional skiing and outdoor activities. Activities: Duke of Edinburgh Award. Clubs include dance, drama, art, science, maths, languages, chess, recreational sport, enterprise group, editorial team for school newspaper.

Uniform: School uniform worn. Skirt or trouser suits in sixth form.. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Head girl, prefects, sports captain and house prefects - appointed by the school. Religion: Roman Catholic foundation, all denominations welcome. Social: Community work in Year 12. Maths quizzes with other local schools. Language and ski trips abroad, individual sixth formers visit Spain and France. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school; also cars but not in school grounds. Meals in school 'bistro' but pupils may bring own lunch.

Pupils must conform to acceptable standards of behaviour; if they do not, parents are contacted. In a case of a serious breach of discipline a pupil would be excluded. Detention used (eg repeated lateness, lack of homework) but in general clear rules are sufficient.