Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School
72%
Capacity
445
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School
Notre Dame Catholic Girls' School in Southwark is a school where demand significantly outstrips supply: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 140 applications for just 41 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.41. Only 18 first-preference offers were made, which suggests that while many families are keen to secure a place, competition is fierce. ParentView data is not available in this dataset, so we can't report a recommendation percentage, but the high application numbers alone signal strong local interest. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic secondary for girls aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form or nursery provision. It currently has 445 pupils against a capacity of 620, and a relatively high proportion of students eligible for free school meals at 44.7 per cent, reflecting the diverse community it serves.
Academically, the school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 rated it as Requires Improvement overall, a significant drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2012. The breakdown shows that leadership and management, and quality of education, both require improvement, while behaviour and attitudes, and personal development, were judged Good. On exam performance, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.25 in 2023/24, which is above the national average but below the Southwark local authority average of 0.46. This places the school 13th out of 19 similar schools in the borough. Attainment 8 stood at 44.8, with 62.9 per cent of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Progress in English was notably strong at 0.54, while maths progress was slightly negative at -0.17.
The school offers a solid range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, science labs, and a chapel, plus clubs such as film, debate, and Young Enterprise. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and netball. SEND support covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With no sixth form, families will need to plan for post-16 options elsewhere. This school will suit families who prioritise a Catholic single-sex environment and are comfortable with a school that is currently in a period of transition following its Ofsted downgrade, but where behaviour and personal development remain strong points. The high oversubscription ratio means early and careful application is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | 118 St George's Road, London, Southwark, SE1 6EX |
| Headteacher | Blon Byrne |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| Number of Pupils | 445 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.7% |
| School Capacity | 445 / 620 (72% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 13 May 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.25)
937th of 3,141
Nationally
257th of 487
In London
13th of 19
In Southwark
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.
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
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed41
140
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
18 families put this school as their 1st choice (13% 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 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
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Black18.0%
- Mixed10.8%
- Asian5.0%
- White British3.8%
- White (other)2.7%
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.
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.
33
Total schools
26
Oversubscribed
20
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 Notre Dame Catholic 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
118 St George's Road, London
Southwark, SE1 6EX
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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