Notre Dame High School

About Notre Dame High School

Notre Dame High School is a Roman Catholic secondary in Sheffield, one of 33 state secondaries in the local authority. Among its closest academic peers in the area, it sits behind High Storrs School and King Ecgbert School but ahead of Tapton School in the local rankings. Tapton, which is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, lies just 0.4 kilometres away, making it the nearest top-rated school for families weighing up options. Notre Dame itself holds a Good rating from Ofsted, and with 1,492 pupils on a capacity of 495, it is heavily oversubscribed — a clear sign of its popularity with local families. The school is mixed, for ages 11 to 18, and has a dedicated Sixth Form Centre, so pupils can stay on for A-levels without needing to move schools. Its religious character as a Roman Catholic school will appeal particularly to families seeking a faith-based education within the state system, though it is not a selective school.

Academically, Notre Dame delivers strong results across both key stages. At GCSE, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 65.2, well above the national average, and 96.6 per cent of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, with 87.4 per cent achieving a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc average point score of 5.74 reflects solid performance across a broad academic curriculum. At A-level, the school’s performance is particularly impressive: its value-added score of 0.51 is well above average, and the progress banding is rated ‘Well above average’. Pupils achieved an average of 42.09 points per entry, equivalent to a B+ grade, and 20 per cent of entries were graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged a B+ grade, and with 26 pupils in the cohort, the sixth form is relatively small but high-achieving. For context, the local authority’s average Progress 8 score is -0.4, so Notre Dame’s outcomes comfortably outperform the Sheffield average.

The school is well equipped for a broad education, with facilities including science labs, art studios, a sports hall, tennis courts, an astro turf pitch, music rooms, a chapel, and a library. Sports offered range from swimming and hockey to dance and gymnastics, and there is a strong extracurricular programme with clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Model UN, debate, orchestra, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have special educational needs, the data does not specify SEND provision, so it is worth contacting the school directly to discuss support. Admission is clearly competitive given the oversubscription — the school has nearly three times as many pupils as its stated capacity — so early application is essential. Notre Dame suits families who want a faith-based, academically strong secondary with a thriving sixth form and a wide range of activities, all within a city setting.

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