Bishop Milner Catholic College
105%
Capacity
837
Pupils
3.5x
Demand
About Bishop Milner Catholic College
Bishop Milner Catholic College sits just above the Dudley local authority average for Progress 8, with a score of -0.02 compared with the LA average of -0.08. That might not sound like much, but in a borough where the typical secondary school is pulling pupils slightly below national expectations, this school is essentially holding its own. It ranks 8th out of 22 state secondaries in Dudley, placing it in the top half locally. The school is heavily oversubscribed — 491 applications for 142 places in 2025/26, with 235 first-preference applications and only 128 first-preference offers — which suggests local families see it as a solid choice. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed a Good rating, upgrading from Requires Improvement in 2012, with leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and overall effectiveness all judged Good. The school is Roman Catholic, mixed, and takes pupils from 11 to 18.
Academically, the picture is mixed but broadly positive. At GCSE, 72.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and 47% hit grade 5 or above. The Attainment 8 score sits at 46.8, and the EBacc average point score is 3.82. Progress 8 is bang on average nationally, with English showing a positive score of +0.26, while maths (-0.15) and the EBacc subjects (-0.22) lag slightly. Only 14.1% of pupils entered the EBacc, and just 4.7% achieved it at grade 5 or above — well below national trends. In the sixth form, the picture is weaker: value added is -0.44, classed as below average, with pupils averaging a D+ per entry and a best three A-level grade of C-. The school ranks 10th out of 17 Dudley secondaries on Progress 8, and 156th out of 371 in the West Midlands, putting it in the bottom half regionally but around the median nationally.
The school is well equipped for a secondary of its size, with science labs, an astro turf, tennis courts, music rooms, and a chapel. There is a dedicated sixth-form centre and a library. Sports provision is broad, including rugby, hockey, martial arts, and dance, and clubs range from Model UN and Young Enterprise to coding and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autism, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 27.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is significantly above the national average, and the school is oversubscribed by a ratio of 3.46 to 1. It suits families who want a Catholic secondary with a strong local reputation, decent GCSE outcomes, and a sixth form that offers a genuine pathway despite below-average value added. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Beacon Hill Academy, 1.6 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Bishop Milner Catholic College, Dudley, Dudley, DY1 3BY |
| Headteacher | Siobhan Foster |
| Local Authority | Dudley |
| Number of Pupils | 837 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.6% |
| School Capacity | 837 / 800 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (20 Sept 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 9 Sept 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.02)
1580th of 3,141
Nationally
156th of 371
In West Midlands
10th of 17
In Dudley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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
33.5
'22/23
22.8
'23/24
23.1
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
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 59 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
15%
Russell Group
16%
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)64%
- Employment24%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Not sustained2%
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
20Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed142
491
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
235 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% 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 half 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.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British43.0%
- Asian16.3%
- Mixed15.2%
- White (other)6.1%
- Black2.3%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% 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.
8
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
5
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 Milner Catholic College
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
Bishop Milner Catholic College, Dudley
Dudley, DY1 3BY
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