Bishop Douglass School Finchley
94%
Capacity
1,013
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Bishop Douglass School Finchley
Bishop Douglass School Finchley holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections, with the latest full inspection taking place in 2022. The most telling academic metric is its Progress 8 score of 0.43, which places the school in the above average banding nationally. This means that pupils at Bishop Douglass achieve nearly half a grade more per subject across eight GCSEs than students with similar starting points nationally. The school ranks 20th out of 28 secondary schools in the London Borough of Barnet on this measure, putting it in the top 25% of schools nationally. While the local authority average Progress 8 score is a strong 0.6, Bishop Douglass still comfortably outperforms the national average of zero, demonstrating that it adds significant value to its students' education.
At GCSE, the school's Attainment 8 score sits at 53.4, and a solid 57.4% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths. The school places a strong emphasis on the English Baccalaureate, with 92.9% of pupils entered for EBacc-eligible qualifications and 28.4% achieving the full EBacc at grade 5 or above. In the sixth form, the school's value added score of 0.27 is also above average, with students achieving an average grade of C+ across their best three A-levels. The average points per entry is 33.1, again equivalent to a C+ grade. With 103 pupils in the sixth form cohort, the school offers a reasonably sized post-16 provision that continues the academic progress seen at Key Stage 4.
The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 136 places in Year 7, it received 329 applications, with 60 first-preference offers made. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.42, reflecting strong local demand. Facilities include a swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, playing fields, and a chapel, alongside art studios and music rooms. The school offers a wide range of clubs including the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise, and sports such as rugby, gymnastics, and cross country. Its SEND provisions cover nine areas including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language needs, making it a potentially good fit for families seeking a Catholic secondary with strong academic value-add and a broad co-curricular offer, though the 26.1% pupil premium rate suggests a diverse intake.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Hamilton Road, London, Barnet, N2 0SQ |
| Headteacher | Martin Tissot |
| Local Authority | Barnet |
| Number of Pupils | 1,013 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,013 / 1,080 (94% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Jul 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.43)
609th of 3,141
Nationally
196th of 487
In London
20th of 28
In Barnet
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
33.3
'22/23
29.9
'23/24
33.1
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2377%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 101 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
18%
Russell Group
21%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)77%
- Employment10%
- Not sustained6%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed136
329
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
60 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Mixed15.2%
- White (other)15.1%
- Asian9.9%
- White British5.2%
- Black1.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bishop Douglass School Finchley
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Hamilton Road, London
Barnet, N2 0SQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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