Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College
100%
Capacity
1,050
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College
Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College is clearly a popular choice among Worcester families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 418 applications for 205 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.04, meaning more than two families applied for every spot. Of those, 204 put the school as their first preference, and 191 of those were offered a place. That level of demand suggests a strong reputation locally. The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for boys and girls aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is led by headteacher Greg McClarey. It currently has 1,050 pupils on roll, exactly matching its capacity, so it is full to the brim. With 17.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake in terms of socio-economic background.
Academically, the school performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.23 is classed as 'Above average' nationally, and compares very favourably with the Worcestershire local authority average of -0.21. That means pupils here make significantly more progress than their peers across the county. The Attainment 8 score sits at 51.6, and 78 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 56.5 per cent hitting the stronger grade 5 benchmark. The EBacc average point score is 4.3, though only 22.9 per cent of pupils entered the full EBacc suite. In its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2013, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. This is a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2010, when it was rated Requires Improvement.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, chapel, library, art studios, music rooms, and playing fields. Sports provision is broad, with football, netball, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, badminton, dance, rounders, and basketball all on offer. There are also clubs such as orchestra, film club, coding, chess, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for a wide range of SEND categories including autistic spectrum disorder, dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. This is a Catholic school with a strong local reputation, oversubscribed and full, that suits families who value academic progress above the county average and want a secondary that stops at 16.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Timberdine Avenue, Worcester, Worcester, WR5 2XD |
| Headteacher | Greg McClarey |
| Local Authority | Worcestershire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,050 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 17.1% |
| School Capacity | 1,050 / 1,050 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
23 Mar 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (23 Mar 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 6 Mar 2013. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.23)
1005th of 3,141
Nationally
97th of 371
In West Midlands
2nd of 5
In Worcester
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2314%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 209 pupils).
- Sixth form college59%
- FE college17%
- School sixth form (stay)14%
- Apprenticeship5%
- Employment3%
- Not sustained1%
99% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed205
418
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
204 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British55.0%
- Asian17.6%
- White (other)15.1%
- Mixed6.7%
- Black0.2%
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.
7
Total schools
7
Oversubscribed
4
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 Blessed Edward Oldcorne 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
Timberdine Avenue, Worcester
Worcester, WR5 2XD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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