St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School
127%
Capacity
1,133
Pupils
6.8x
Demand
About St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School
St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School is a heavily oversubscribed state secondary in Slough, with 1,023 applications for 150 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 6.82. Of those applicants, 181 put it as their first preference, and only 68 first-preference offers were made. That level of demand suggests a school that local families are very keen to get into. The school is Roman Catholic by character, mixed gender, and takes pupils from age 11 through to 18. It has a capacity of 894 but currently has 1,133 pupils on roll, so it is running well above its official capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is just 3.7%, well below the national average, which is typical of grammar schools in the area.
Academically, the school performs very strongly. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, it received Outstanding in every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. At KS4, the Progress 8 score is 0.93, which is well above average and ranks the school 2nd out of 12 schools in Slough, 12th out of 461 in the South East, and 108th nationally. The Attainment 8 score is 76.7, and 100% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 96.2%, and 81.5% achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. The local authority average Progress 8 is 0.32, so St Bernard's is significantly ahead. At A-level, the average points per entry is 39.29, equivalent to a B grade, and the value added score is 0.04, rated as average.
The school has a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, theatre, chapel, sports hall, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. Sports on offer include gymnastics, rugby, swimming, and martial arts, and there are clubs such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, debate, and orchestra. The school has a comprehensive SEND provision, covering specific learning difficulties, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With such high demand, admission is very competitive, and the school is likely to suit families who prioritise strong academic outcomes and a Catholic ethos. It is one of five Outstanding-rated schools in Slough, and the nearest Outstanding school is Upton Court Grammar School, just 0.4 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | 1 Langley Road, Slough, Slough, SL3 7AF |
| Headteacher | Paul Kassapian |
| Local Authority | Slough |
| Number of Pupils | 1,133 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 3.7% |
| School Capacity | 1,133 / 894 (127% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
7 Nov 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.93)
108th of 3,141
Nationally
12th of 461
In South East
2nd of 12
In Slough
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
40.9
'22/23
37.6
'23/24
39.3
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
2022/2392%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 127 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)92%
- FE college3%
- Sixth form college2%
- Apprenticeship1%
- Not sustained1%
99% 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
2022/2373%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 157 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
40%
Russell Group
41%
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)73%
- Employment15%
- Not sustained5%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
- Other education1%
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- Mathematics89
- Biology66
- Psychology62
- Chemistry54
- Economics45
- Physics38
- English Literature31
- Business Studies:Single30
- History30
- Sociology27
- Religious Studies17
- Mathematics (Further)13
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
13Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed150
1,023
Extremely High Demand
Very competitive - significantly more applications than places
181 families put this school as their 1st choice (18% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
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%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian43.7%
- Mixed19.5%
- White British11.3%
- White (other)9.1%
- Black0.4%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
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.
11
Total schools
9
Oversubscribed
6
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 Bernard's Catholic Grammar 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
1 Langley Road, Slough
Slough, SL3 7AF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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