Queen Katharine Academy

About Queen Katharine Academy

Queen Katharine Academy's headline Progress 8 score of -0.64 places it well below the Peterborough local authority average of 0.03, a gap that marks it out as the second-lowest performing secondary in a 12-school LA ranking. This means that, on average, pupils here achieve nearly two-thirds of a grade less per subject across their eight best GCSEs than students at similar schools nationally. The school's Progress 8 banding is officially "Well below average," and its Attainment 8 score of 31.6 — roughly the equivalent of a mix of 4s and 3s — reinforces that picture. Only 19.1% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and maths, compared with a national benchmark that typically sits around the mid-40s. The EBacc entry rate is just 3%, and the EBacc average point score is 2.62, suggesting a curriculum that is not heavily weighted toward the traditional academic suite.

The most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, judged the school Inadequate overall, a significant downgrade from its previous Good rating in 2019. Behaviour and attitudes, along with quality of education, were both rated Inadequate, while leadership and management and personal development were judged Requires improvement. The sixth form, however, was rated Good, which offers a sliver of positive news for post-16 provision. At A-level, the average points per entry is 24.42, equivalent to a D+, and the value-added score of -0.08 falls within the "Average" progress banding — meaning sixth-form students make roughly the progress you would expect given their starting points. The best three A-levels average out at a D+ grade, and no students achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects.

The school is oversubscribed: for 230 Year 7 places in 2025/26, it received 367 total applications, with 190 first-preference offers made. That 1.6 oversubscription ratio suggests some local demand despite the inspection outcome. Facilities are decent — a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, astro turf, and a sixth form centre — and the clubs list includes chess, drama, gardening, and eco club. SEND provisions cover a wide range, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent View responses, however, are stark: only 30% of the 66 respondents would recommend the school, and strong disagreement outweighs agreement on questions about behaviour, bullying, and how concerns are handled. This is a school that will suit families who value its sixth form and wide facilities but are prepared for significant challenges at KS4 level.

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