La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
48%
Capacity
586
Pupils
4.1x
Demand
About La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Parents seem genuinely positive about La Sainte Union. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 83% of the 76 respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That’s a strong signal, and it’s backed up by the detail: 86% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 92% felt their child is safe. The school is clearly popular locally too. For Year 7 entry in 2025/26, it received 132 applications for just 32 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.13. Only 21 first-preference offers were made, so getting a place is competitive. The school is a Roman Catholic girls’ secondary in Camden, led by headteacher Sophie Fegan, and it currently has 586 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1219, meaning there is room to grow.
Academically, La Sainte Union performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.18 is rated ‘Average’ nationally but sits comfortably above Camden’s LA average of -0.32, placing it 3rd out of 12 schools in the borough. Pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 48.7, and 68.5% secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. English progress was particularly strong at 0.57, though maths progress was negative at -0.3. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of -0.18 is rated ‘Below average’, with students averaging a C+ grade per entry and 33.87 points per entry. The most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024 rated the school Good overall, with Good marks across all categories including behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, science labs, music rooms, and a sixth-form centre. Sports include hockey, tennis, rowing, and martial arts, while clubs range from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to Model UN and Young Enterprise. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, though the Parent View data on SEND support was split: 53% agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, while 40% disagreed or strongly disagreed. This is a school that will suit families who value a Catholic girls’ environment with strong academic outcomes at GCSE, a busy extracurricular programme, and a sixth form on site. Given its oversubscription, applying as a first preference is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Highgate Road, London, Camden, NW5 1RP |
| Headteacher | Sophie Fegan |
| Local Authority | Camden |
| Number of Pupils | 586 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.5% |
| School Capacity | 586 / 1,219 (48% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
3 Dec 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.18)
1126th of 3,141
Nationally
296th of 487
In London
3rd of 12
In Camden
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
34.8
'22/23
31.4
'23/24
33.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2371%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 167 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)71%
- Sixth form college13%
- FE college11%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
98% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2370%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 105 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
24%
Russell Group
24%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)70%
- Employment13%
- Not sustained10%
- Further education2%
- Apprenticeship2%
- 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.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Sociology16
- Mathematics13
- Biology12
- English Literature11
- Chemistry10
- Government and Politics10
- History10
- Economics8
- Geography7
- Art and Design (Fine Art)6
- Business Studies:Single6
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
Ofsted Parent View
76 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed32
132
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
21 families put this school as their 1st choice (16% 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
- White British18.8%
- Mixed13.6%
- White (other)11.6%
- Asian5.9%
- Black2.2%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
24
Total schools
20
Oversubscribed
16
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 La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary 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
Highgate Road, London
Camden, NW5 1RP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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