Saint Cecilia's Church of England School
111%
Capacity
1,106
Pupils
5.4x
Demand
About Saint Cecilia's Church of England School
Saint Cecilia's Church of England School is a mixed state secondary in Wandsworth that is clearly in high demand. With 1,106 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,000, the school is operating above its official limit. The oversubscription figures for the 2025/26 intake tell the story: 957 applications for 176 places, giving a ratio of 5.44 applicants per spot. Of those, 198 families put it as their first preference, and 133 received offers. The school serves a relatively diverse intake — 28.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably above the national average for secondary schools (around 23-24%) and suggests a genuine cross-section of the local community. The school has a Church of England character, though it is a state-funded academy, and is led by headteacher Renata Joseph.
Academically, Saint Cecilia's delivers solid results that place it comfortably above average nationally. Its Progress 8 score of +0.35 is rated 'Above average', meaning pupils typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar students nationally. This is a strong outcome, though it sits below the Wandsworth local authority average of +0.55, which is boosted by several high-performing neighbours. The Attainment 8 score of 55.6 equates to just under a grade 5 (strong pass) per subject, and 80.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score of -0.06 is classed as 'Average', with students achieving an average grade of C+ per entry. The school ranks 7th out of 11 state secondaries in Wandsworth by Progress 8, placing it in the top 25% nationally.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth form centre, science labs, and astro turf, plus a strong sports programme covering swimming, hockey, cricket, and martial arts. Clubs include debate, eco club, and Young Enterprise. For families with children who have additional needs, the SEND provision is extensive, covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities among others. The school has a Good Ofsted rating from its most recent inspection in 2023, upgraded from a Requires Improvement in 2009, with leadership and management and sixth form provision both rated Good. Given the intense competition for places, this school will suit families who are prepared to apply early and make it a strong first preference, particularly those who value a Church of England ethos and a genuinely comprehensive intake.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Sutherland Grove, London, Wandsworth, SW18 5JR |
| Headteacher | Renata Joseph |
| Local Authority | Wandsworth |
| Number of Pupils | 1,106 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,106 / 1,000 (111% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
28 Jun 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (28 Jun 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 3 Nov 2011. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.35)
744th of 3,141
Nationally
225th of 487
In London
7th of 11
In Wandsworth
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make 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
34.6
'22/23
31.7
'23/24
31.9
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
2022/2369%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 147 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)69%
- FE college19%
- Sixth form college6%
- Not sustained2%
- Employment1%
98% 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: 92 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
34%
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)50%
- Employment23%
- Not sustained15%
- Further education2%
- 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- History27
- Mathematics26
- Psychology24
- Biology23
- Chemistry19
- Computer Studies / Computing14
- English Literature14
- Government and Politics14
- Physical Education / Sports Studies12
- Religious Studies11
- Geography10
- Physics9
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.
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
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed176
957
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
198 families put this school as their 1st choice (21% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Source: saintcecilias.london. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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 British39.5%
- White (other)15.4%
- Mixed12.0%
- Asian8.0%
- Black7.1%
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.
Half 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.
16
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
12
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 Saint Cecilia's Church of England 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
Sutherland Grove, London
Wandsworth, SW18 5JR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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