Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
96%
Capacity
1,199
Pupils
2.9x
Demand
About Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School is a popular choice among local families, and the numbers back that up. For entry in 2025/26, the school received 588 applications for 206 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.85. Of those applications, 156 were first-preference choices, and 149 of those families received an offer. That level of demand suggests parents who know the school well are keen to secure a place. The school is a mixed, state secondary for ages 11 to 18 in Three Rivers, Hertfordshire, with a Roman Catholic character. It has a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2023, which confirmed the school remains Good. The previous graded inspection in 2013 rated it Outstanding overall, so the current Good grade represents a change, though the ungraded inspection in 2023 found no reason to alter that judgement.
Academically, Saint Joan of Arc performs above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.34 is well ahead of the Hertfordshire local authority average of 0.18, placing it in the top 25% of schools nationally for this measure. The Attainment 8 score sits at 51.9, and 81.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 50%, with 32.1% achieving the full EBacc at grade 4 or above. At A-level, the school’s value-added score is 0.1, with an average points per entry of 33.79, equivalent to a C+ grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C+ as well, and 11.7% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form has 91 pupils and is rated as having average progress compared to similar schools.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, science labs, music rooms, a library, and a chapel. There is a strong range of extracurricular activities, from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Model UN to chess, choir, and gardening club. The school also offers a broad set of SEND provisions, covering areas such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 8.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the intake is slightly below the national average for disadvantage. This is a school that suits families looking for a Catholic secondary with strong academic outcomes above the local average, a popular sixth form, and a wide array of clubs and sports. Its oversubscription means applying as a first preference is wise.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | High Street, Rickmansworth, Three Rivers, WD3 1HG |
| Headteacher | Bernadette O'Hanlon |
| Local Authority | Hertfordshire |
| Number of Pupils | 1,199 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,199 / 1,243 (96% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
19 Oct 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (19 Oct 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 22 Jan 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.34)
755th of 3,141
Nationally
82nd of 350
In East of England
3rd of 7
In Three Rivers
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
38.5
'22/23
36.8
'23/24
33.8
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: 207 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)53%
- FE college30%
- Sixth form college10%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Employment1%
96% 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
2022/2353%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 105 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
21%
Russell Group
26%
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)53%
- Employment25%
- Apprenticeship12%
- Not sustained5%
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- Psychology42
- Sociology33
- History23
- Biology14
- Religious Studies14
- Film Studies12
- Economics11
- Portuguese10
- Italian8
- Drama and Theatre Studies7
- Government and Politics7
- Business Studies:Single6
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
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
19Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed206
588
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
156 families put this school as their 1st choice (27% 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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British52.6%
- White (other)13.8%
- Mixed9.2%
- Asian8.1%
- Black0.3%
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.
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.
6
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
4
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 Joan of Arc Catholic 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
High Street, Rickmansworth
Three Rivers, WD3 1HG
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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