Classpot

St James' Catholic High School

Barnet, NW9 5PESecondaryAges 11–18MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2022
Progress 8
+0.32
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.5×
Not oversubscribed
93 1st-choice / 177 places
Ranking
#798
of 3,141 nationally

About St James' Catholic High School

Parents considering St James' Catholic High School will find a school that is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 424 applications for 177 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.4 applicants per place. Of those, 93 families made it their first preference, and all 93 were offered a place. This level of competition suggests strong local confidence in the school. While the school does not publish a parent satisfaction survey, the high number of applications relative to places is a practical signal that families in Barnet are actively choosing St James'. The school is a mixed Roman Catholic secondary with a sixth form, serving 1,254 pupils against a capacity of 1,400. It is led by headteacher Anthony Ellul and was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a grade it has held consistently across its previous inspections.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressGreat Strand, London, Barnet, NW9 5PE
HeadteacherAnthony Ellul
Local AuthorityBarnet
Number of Pupils1,254
Free School Meals (FSM)30.0%
School Capacity1,254 / 1,400 (90% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 May 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (5 May 2022): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2017. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Swimming PoolTennis CourtsPlaying FieldsSports HallAstro TurfGymnasiumICT SuiteArt StudiosMusic RoomsScience LabsDining HallChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

RowingMartial ArtsFootballRugbyBasketballCricketGymnasticsTennisAthleticsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

DramaFilm ClubScience ClubBook ClubArt ClubModel United NationsDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St James' Catholic High School

St James' Catholic High School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.