St Catherine's Catholic School
99%
Capacity
1,040
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About St Catherine's Catholic School
St Catherine's Catholic School in Bexley is a girls' state secondary that delivers academic results well above the local authority norm. Its Progress 8 score of 0.75 is significantly higher than the Bexley average of 0.03, placing the school second out of 17 similar schools in the borough and in the top 10 per cent nationally. This is not a school that merely matches expectations; it consistently pushes pupils beyond what their starting points would predict. The Attainment 8 score of 55.8 further underlines strong outcomes, and 81.2 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. The school is oversubscribed, with 407 applications for 204 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 119 first-preference offers were made, reflecting its popularity among local families.
The school's Ofsted rating of Good was confirmed in a June 2022 inspection, with all key areas — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management — each judged Good. This is consistent with its previous inspection in 2015, which also rated overall effectiveness as Good. The Progress 8 banding is described as 'well above average', and the school's EBacc entry rate of 71.3 per cent is high, with 54 per cent of pupils achieving the EBacc at a grade 4 or above. In English, Progress 8 is 0.83, and in maths it is 0.37, showing particularly strong gains in literacy. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, but the results suggest they are well prepared for A-levels or other post-16 routes.
St Catherine's is a Roman Catholic school with a chapel on site, and it offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, tennis courts, music rooms, a library, and a sixth form centre (though the school itself runs only to Year 11). Sports on offer include gymnastics, rugby, martial arts, rowing, swimming, and tennis, while clubs range from orchestra and art club to coding, science club, and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The school has a broad SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With 13.3 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. For families seeking a high-performing, faith-based girls' school with strong academic progress and a clear set of extracurricular opportunities, St Catherine's is a compelling choice within Bexley.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Watling Street, Bexleyheath, Bexley, DA6 7QJ |
| Headteacher | Nicola Thompson |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,040 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 13.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,040 / 1,050 (99% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Jun 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 21 Sept 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.75)
224th of 3,141
Nationally
87th of 487
In London
2nd of 16
In Bexley
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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
11Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed204
407
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
119 families put this school as their 1st choice (29% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British16.9%
- Asian9.7%
- Mixed8.5%
- White (other)4.4%
- Black3.8%
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.
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.
14
Total schools
13
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 Catherine's 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
Watling Street, Bexleyheath
Bexley, DA6 7QJ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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