St Bede's School
103%
Capacity
1,952
Pupils
3.0x
Demand
About St Bede's School
St Bede's School is a large, mixed secondary and sixth form in Reigate and Banstead, and it is clearly a popular choice among local families. The school has a capacity of 1,890 but currently houses 1,952 pupils, meaning it is operating slightly above its official limit. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 991 applications for 330 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3 to 1. Of those applicants, 464 put St Bede's as their first preference, and 317 first-preference offers were made, which suggests that while demand is very high, a first-choice application significantly improves your chances. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 6.5%, which is notably lower than the national average and points to a relatively affluent intake. The school is designated as a Church of England/Roman Catholic voluntary aided school, which will be a factor in its admissions criteria.
Academically, St Bede's is a standout performer. Its Progress 8 score of 0.72 is rated as 'well above average' and is nearly three times the local authority average of 0.26. This places the school 9th out of 66 state secondary schools in Surrey, and 1st out of 6 in the Reigate and Banstead district. At GCSE, 90.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 59.4. The school also has a strong focus on the English Baccalaureate, with 63% of pupils entering the EBacc and 47.7% achieving a grade 5 or above in it. In the sixth form, A-level outcomes are solid, with a value-added score of 0.03 and an average points per entry of 33.92, equating to a grade of C+. Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023 and confirmed it remains Outstanding, with both leadership and management and sixth-form provision judged Outstanding.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, science labs, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision is extensive, with rugby, hockey, netball, and martial arts among the options, while clubs cover everything from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to Model UN and Young Enterprise. St Bede's also has a comprehensive SEND offer, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is heavily oversubscribed and academically exceptional, particularly for a state school. It will suit pupils who are motivated and able, and who thrive in a structured, high-achieving environment. The religious character means that faith-based admissions criteria apply, so it is worth checking the school's admissions policy carefully before applying.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England/Roman Catholic |
| Address | Carlton Road, Redhill, Reigate and Banstead, RH1 2LQ |
| Headteacher | Adam Powell |
| Local Authority | Surrey |
| Number of Pupils | 1,952 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.5% |
| School Capacity | 1,952 / 1,890 (103% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Mar 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Latest inspection (29 Mar 2023): School remains Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 20 Feb 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.72)
259th of 3,141
Nationally
45th of 461
In South East
1st of 6
In Reigate and Banstead
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
39.9
'22/23
35.0
'23/24
33.9
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
2022/2347%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 298 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)47%
- Sixth form college33%
- FE college13%
- Employment2%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
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
2022/2365%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 155 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
39%
Russell Group
37%
Top-third HE
2%
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)65%
- Employment19%
- Not sustained8%
- Apprenticeship3%
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- Mathematics45
- Sociology42
- Psychology35
- Economics29
- Business Studies:Single26
- History25
- Biology23
- Geography23
- Chemistry19
- Religious Studies14
- Government and Politics13
- Physics13
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
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed330
991
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
464 families put this school as their 1st choice (47% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: st-bedes.surrey.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British60.1%
- White (other)9.2%
- Mixed9.0%
- Asian6.9%
- Black1.5%
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.
75% 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.
9
Total schools
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Bede's 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
Carlton Road, Redhill
Reigate and Banstead, RH1 2LQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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