Notre Dame RC School
81%
Capacity
732
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Notre Dame RC School
Notre Dame RC School in Plymouth was rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent graded inspection in 2019, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2017. The school has held onto that Good rating since, with an ungraded inspection in early 2025 confirming that while some aspects are not as strong, leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and overall effectiveness remain Good. The most telling exam metric is Progress 8, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and GCSEs compared with the national average. At -0.27, Notre Dame’s score is below the national average of zero and also below the Plymouth local authority average of -0.04. This places the school 13th out of 18 similar schools in the local authority, and in the bottom 50% nationally. The Attainment 8 score sits at 41.7, and just over half of pupils (55.2%) achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
Breaking down the Progress 8 figures shows a mixed picture. Pupils performed closest to the national average in the Open element of the curriculum, with a score of -0.02, but maths progress was notably weaker at -0.5, and the EBacc subjects combined came in at -0.44. Only 9.7% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths alongside the EBacc, and 36.6% entered the EBacc suite of subjects. In the sixth form, the picture is similarly below average. The value-added score is -0.43, and the average points per entry is 24.68, which equates to a D+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a D+ as well. The school’s progress banding for sixth form is rated Below average. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 is -0.04, so Notre Dame sits noticeably below that benchmark, and its ranking in the South West region is 225th out of 306 schools.
The school is a Roman Catholic girls’ secondary with a capacity of 900 and currently 732 pupils on roll, so there is some room. It is oversubscribed: for 135 places in 2025/26, there were 221 applications, with 105 first-preference applications and 104 first-preference offers. Just over a quarter of pupils (26.7%) are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. Facilities include a theatre, swimming pool, chapel, sports hall, and sixth-form centre, and the school offers a wide range of sports and clubs from rowing to Model UN. SEND provisions cover nine areas including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language needs. Parent View responses from 96 parents in the 2024/25 period show strong satisfaction: 88% agreed or strongly agreed their child is happy, and 92% felt their child is safe. However, only 62% agreed or strongly agreed that SEND children get the support they need, and 58% felt the school makes them aware of what their child will learn. This is a school that has improved its Ofsted rating but is still working to lift academic outcomes, particularly in maths and the sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Looseleigh Lane, Plymouth, Plymouth, PL6 5HN |
| Headteacher | Michael Antram |
| Local Authority | Plymouth |
| Number of Pupils | 732 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.7% |
| School Capacity | 732 / 900 (81% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
22 Jan 2025Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (22 Jan 2025): Some aspects not as strong
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jun 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.27)
2159th of 3,141
Nationally
225th of 306
In South West
13th of 18
In Plymouth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
30.2
'22/23
25.4
'23/24
24.7
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
2022/2353%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 116 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college29%
- Apprenticeship6%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment1%
92% 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
2022/2350%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 48 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
6%
Russell Group
6%
Top-third HE
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)50%
- Employment25%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education4%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Other education2%
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- Psychology19
- Biology15
- Media/Film/Tv Studies11
- Art and Design (Photography)10
- Geography9
- Religious Studies9
- Mathematics8
- Art and Design (Fine Art)6
- English Language6
- English Literature6
- History6
- Spanish5
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
96 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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed135
221
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
105 families put this school as their 1st choice (48% 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 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.5%
- White (other)5.1%
- Asian4.4%
- Mixed3.8%
- Black1.1%
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
5
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 RC 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
Looseleigh Lane, Plymouth
Plymouth, PL6 5HN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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