Sacred Heart Catholic School

About Sacred Heart Catholic School

Sacred Heart Catholic School sits in Southwark, one of twelve state secondaries in the borough rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Among the 19 mainstream secondary schools in the local authority, it ranks second for Progress 8, placing it firmly in the top five. The school’s Progress 8 score of 1.24 puts it ahead of nearby peers like Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich (0.98) and The Charter School North Dulwich (0.8), though it trails the top-ranked St Thomas the Apostle College (1.45). Nationally, Sacred Heart sits 21st out of over 3,100 schools, and within London it ranks 15th out of 487. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, 744 families applied for 113 places, with 270 listing it as their first preference. Only 108 first-preference offers were made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.58. Headteacher Richard Lansiquot leads a school that has held an Outstanding rating across both its recent inspections, with the most recent graded inspection in November 2023 awarding top marks in every category including behaviour, personal development, and sixth-form provision.

Academically, Sacred Heart’s GCSE results are well above the Southwark average. Its Progress 8 score of 1.24 means pupils achieve nearly a grade and a quarter more per subject than similar students nationally, compared with the LA average of 0.46. Attainment 8 sits at 58.1, and 92% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 73.6% reaching grade 5 or above. Over half of pupils entered the EBacc, and 52% achieved it at grade 4 or above. The school’s EBacc average point score is 5.38. At A-level, the picture is more mixed. The sixth form’s value-added score of -0.3 is rated below average, and the average points per entry of 36.48 equates to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at a B- as well, with 13.5% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form is graded Outstanding by Ofsted, but the progress data suggests that while the school excels at GCSE, it is less strong at adding value post-16.

The school is a Roman Catholic mixed secondary with a capacity of 750 but currently houses 903 pupils, reflecting its popularity. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, playing fields, science labs, art and music studios, a sixth-form centre, and a chapel. Sports on offer include rugby, basketball, cricket, dance, and cross country, while clubs range from coding and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 45.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and disadvantaged intake. Sacred Heart is best suited to families who prioritise strong GCSE outcomes and a Catholic ethos, and who are comfortable with a large, oversubscribed school where competition for places is fierce. Those considering the sixth form should weigh the strong Ofsted rating against the below-average value-added scores.

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