Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School
104%
Capacity
829
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School
Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School is a Roman Catholic secondary in Havering that is clearly in high demand. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 399 applications for 119 places, making it oversubscribed by a ratio of 3.35 to one. Of those, 145 families put it as their first preference, and 113 first-preference offers were made. The school currently has 829 pupils on roll against a capacity of 797, so it is operating slightly above its official number. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 12.7 per cent, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake. As a girls-only state school with a religious character, it draws from a specific catchment, and the oversubscription figures indicate strong local demand from families who value its particular ethos and single-sex environment.
Academically, the school performs very strongly. Its Progress 8 score of 0.71 is classified as 'well above average' nationally and ranks first out of 17 schools in Havering, well ahead of the local authority average of 0.11. The Attainment 8 score of 62.3 is high, and 90.1 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The school also places a strong emphasis on the EBacc, with 67.8 per cent of pupils entered for the full suite and 55.4 per cent achieving a grade 5 or above in it. At A-level, the average points per entry is 36.86, equivalent to a B- grade, and the value added score of 0.11 is rated as average. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in October 2024, the school was judged Outstanding across all available categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. There are numerous clubs and activities on offer, such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, orchestra, and coding club, alongside sports like rowing, netball, and football. The school also provides support for a broad spectrum of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. Parent View responses are overwhelmingly positive: 97 per cent of parents would recommend the school, and 98 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy there. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong academic outcomes, a single-sex setting, and a Catholic ethos, and who are prepared to navigate a competitive admissions process in the Havering area.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | St Mary's Lane, Upminster, Havering, RM14 2QR |
| Headteacher | Vivienne Qurrey |
| Local Authority | Havering |
| Number of Pupils | 829 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.7% |
| School Capacity | 829 / 797 (104% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
1 Oct 2024Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 10 Nov 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.71)
274th of 3,141
Nationally
104th of 487
In London
1st of 17
In Havering
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly 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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
39.2
'22/23
34.3
'23/24
36.9
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2373%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 108 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
25%
Top-third HE
1%
Oxford / Cambridge
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)73%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship2%
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.
Ofsted Parent View
122 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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed119
399
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
145 families put this school as their 1st choice (36% 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 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British49.5%
- Asian9.8%
- Mixed9.5%
- White (other)8.6%
- Black2.4%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half 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.
10
Total schools
9
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 Sacred Heart of Mary 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
St Mary's Lane, Upminster
Havering, RM14 2QR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School!
Write a Review