Coloma Convent Girls' School
87%
Capacity
924
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Coloma Convent Girls' School
Coloma Convent Girls' School in Croydon presents a fascinating academic story. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021 rated the school as Requires Improvement overall, a significant shift from its previous Outstanding rating in 2009. However, the school’s exam results tell a much more positive story. Its Progress 8 score of 0.52 is not only well above the national average, but it also places Coloma first out of 22 schools in the Croydon local authority. This score means that pupils at Coloma achieve, on average, half a grade more per subject than students with similar starting points nationally. The school’s Attainment 8 score of 56.7 further underscores this strong performance, and 84.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. This combination of a lower Ofsted rating with exceptional academic outcomes makes Coloma a school where the data demands a closer look.
The school’s academic strength extends into the sixth form, where it is rated Good by Ofsted. The average A-level points per entry is 34.49, equating to a C+ grade, and the best three A-levels average a B-. The school’s value-added score of 0.12 is rated as above average, indicating that students continue to make strong progress post-16. A notable 65.1% of Key Stage 4 pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, and 50% achieved it at a grade 4 or above. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is -0.04, meaning Coloma’s pupils are performing significantly better than the typical student in Croydon. While the school’s Ofsted rating for leadership and management is Requires Improvement, the data suggests that classroom teaching and pupil progress are delivering strong results, particularly in English, where the Progress 8 score is 0.62.
Coloma is a Roman Catholic girls’ secondary school with 924 pupils, oversubscribed with 393 applications for 165 Year 7 places in 2025/26. The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a chapel, alongside clubs like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, and Young Enterprise. Its SEND provisions are comprehensive, covering needs from dyslexia and autism to physical disabilities and speech and language difficulties. With 23.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse community. This is a school for families who prioritise strong academic progress and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable with a leadership team that is currently working through an improvement plan. The data suggests a school that is performing well in the classroom despite its overall Ofsted grade.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Upper Shirley Road, Croydon, Croydon, CR9 5AS |
| Headteacher | Danielle Bumford-Sinclair |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| Number of Pupils | 924 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 23.9% |
| School Capacity | 924 / 1,057 (87% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.52)
479th of 3,141
Nationally
160th of 487
In London
1st of 22
In Croydon
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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
43.8
'22/23
36.4
'23/24
34.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed165
393
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
106 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian21.0%
- White British15.0%
- Mixed11.4%
- White (other)7.1%
- Black3.7%
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
2024/2575% 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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
3
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 Coloma Convent Girls' School
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
Upper Shirley Road, Croydon
Croydon, CR9 5AS
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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