English Martyrs was formed in 1973 from St Joseph's Convent, St Francis' Grammar School, St Anne's, St Bede's and St Peter's Secondary schools.

The first headteacher was Father John Bell and original premises used were St Anne's, St Bede's, St Joseph's Convent, part of the Boys' Tech in Lauder St, and St Francis' buildings of Woodlands and Normanhurst (now The White House)

The head from 1980-1995 was David Relton and in 1985, the lower site at St Francis' school closed.

From 1995-2011 the headteacher was Joseph Hughes and currently Michael Lee is head.

See more detailed information on linked note

Normanhurst was probably built by Matthew Rickinson and later owned by Sir William Cresswell Gray. During the First World War it was used as a convalescent home for injured soldiers. It later became a Roman Catholic school before converting to a public house (the White House) in the 1980s. It is located in Wooler Road.

This building was originally a Victorian residence called 'Woodlands'. It became St Francis' Grammar School in 1956 established by the Xavarian Brothers and later taken over by the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle. Boys attended from Hartlepool and colliery towns of SE Durham. The final headteacher was Father John Bell and in 1973 he  was also appointed   head of the new  English Martyrs Comprehensive School. 

One of the large houses, Normanhusrt is now The White House public house and Woodlands and land around has made way for a small housing estate 'Woodlands

The White House, Wooler Road, was formerly St Francis' Grammar School, then part of English Martyrs School, before conversion to a public house.

Woller Road, Hartlepool