English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College

For the school of the same name in Leicester, see English Martyrs Catholic School.

English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College is a secondary school and sixth form college located in Hartlepool. 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. Since the closing of Brierton School, English Martyrs has received at least 30 - 40 extra students per year group.

The majority of secondary school students come from 6 feeder primary schools, which are:

• St. Cuthbert's school
• St. John Vianney's School
• Sacred Heart School
• St. Bega's School
• St. Teresa's School

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^[1], and two new secondary schools, St Bede's for boys and St Anne's for girls, were opened in 1963. 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 in the buildings of St Bede's and St Anne's.^[2]

Notable alumni

• Jemma Lowe - 2008 Olympic Swimmer
• Janick Gers, Lead Guitarist of Iron Maiden
• Andy, Brian and David Linighan, successful professional footballers
• Kevin Walsh, paralympic swimming bronze medalist

References

1. ^ Saints and sinners, Gerard Hall, 2005.
2. ^ Hartlepool, Northeast England, 1885–1985, Sr Bernadette Cassidy FCJ.