St Bernard's Catholic High School
112%
Capacity
820
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About St Bernard's Catholic High School
Parents considering St Bernard’s Catholic High School will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 422 applications for just 149 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.83. Of those, 255 families put it as their first preference, and 148 first-preference offers were made. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation. The school is a Roman Catholic secondary for pupils aged 11 to 16, with no sixth form, and is currently rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in 2024. Notably, inspectors awarded Outstanding grades for personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. The headteacher is Andrew Riding, and the school operates within the Rotherham local authority.
Academically, St Bernard’s delivers results that sit comfortably above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.32 is rated as Above average nationally, and it ranks second out of 16 schools in Rotherham on this measure. That’s a strong showing, especially when compared with the local authority average Progress 8 score of -0.15. The Attainment 8 score is 48.3, and 68.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 49% reaching grade 5 or above. The English Baccalaureate average point score is 3.95, and 31.8% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In English, the school’s Progress 8 score is particularly strong at 0.51, while maths sits at 0.09. The school has no sixth form, so pupils typically move on elsewhere after Year 11.
The school is well equipped, with facilities including a swimming pool, gymnasium, astro turf, sports hall, theatre, chapel, and science labs. Sports on offer include rugby, athletics, netball, and swimming, while clubs range from drama and Young Enterprise to science, book, and film clubs. St Bernard’s also provides for a wide range of special educational needs, including support for pupils with autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. With 22.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It is oversubscribed, so families will need to apply early and be mindful of the school’s Roman Catholic admissions criteria. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress within a faith-based environment, backed by good behaviour and leadership.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Herringthorpe Valley Road, Rotherham, Rotherham, S65 3BE |
| Headteacher | Andrew Riding |
| Local Authority | Rotherham |
| Number of Pupils | 820 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 22.6% |
| School Capacity | 820 / 730 (112% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
20 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 23 Apr 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.32)
809th of 3,141
Nationally
69th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
2nd of 16
In Rotherham
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2311%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 132 pupils).
- Sixth form college44%
- FE college21%
- School sixth form (stay)11%
- Apprenticeship11%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment4%
91% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed149
422
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
255 families put this school as their 1st choice (60% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.5%
- Asian10.5%
- White (other)10.4%
- Mixed4.4%
- Black2.1%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
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.
12
Total schools
8
Oversubscribed
9
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 St Bernard's Catholic High 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
Herringthorpe Valley Road, Rotherham
Rotherham, S65 3BE
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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