St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking
105%
Capacity
1,541
Pupils
3.4x
Demand
About St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking
If you're a parent weighing up St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School in Woking, the numbers from the most recent Parent View survey are striking. Of the 374 respondents, 96% said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is backed by very high satisfaction across the board: 96% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, and 97% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 95% agreed the school ensures pupils are well-behaved, and 76% strongly agreed that the school has high expectations for their child. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 233 places in the 2025/26 intake, there were 786 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.37. Of the 339 first-preference applications, 231 were offered places, so getting in as a first choice is competitive but far from impossible.
Academically, the school is performing well above the national average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.73 is rated 'well above average' and ranks it 1st out of 5 schools in Woking, 42nd out of 461 in the South East, and 251st nationally. For context, the local authority average Progress 8 score is 0.26, so St John's is adding significantly more value than most Surrey secondaries. At KS4, 89.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score sits at 60.6. The EBacc entry rate is high at 83.6%, with 62.6% achieving the EBacc at grade 4 or above. In the sixth form, the average grade per entry is a B, with a value-added score of 0.23, placing progress in the 'above average' band. The most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025 awarded Outstanding across all graded categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership.
The school is a Roman Catholic comprehensive for ages 11 to 18, with a current roll of 1,541 pupils, slightly above its official capacity of 1,470. Facilities include a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. There is a broad range of sports on offer, from hockey and rugby to dance and cross country, plus clubs such as Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, coding, and debate. The school lists SEND provisions for nine categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs. In the Parent View survey, 91% of parents agreed that SEND children receive the support they need. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes, a clear Catholic ethos, and a busy extracurricular programme, but the oversubscription means early and careful application planning is essential.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Elmbridge Lane, Woking, Woking, GU22 9AL |
| Headteacher | James Granville Hamshar |
| Local Authority | Surrey |
| Number of Pupils | 1,541 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 6.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,541 / 1,470 (105% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Feb 2025Quality of Education
Outstanding
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 19 Mar 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.73)
251st of 3,141
Nationally
42nd of 461
In South East
1st of 5
In Woking
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
43.7
'22/23
40.3
'23/24
41.5
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
2022/2362%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 193 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)62%
- Sixth form college21%
- FE college11%
- Not sustained3%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Employment2%
97% 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
2022/2362%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 149 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
40%
Russell Group
42%
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)62%
- Employment17%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Not sustained4%
- Further education3%
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- Mathematics57
- Business Studies:Single33
- Psychology33
- Biology32
- Chemistry30
- History23
- Physics20
- Sociology17
- Religious Studies14
- Geography13
- Art and Design (Photography)11
- Economics11
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.
Ofsted Parent View
374 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed233
786
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
339 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:50 – 15:25
Source: sjb.surrey.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British51.5%
- White (other)16.5%
- Mixed11.5%
- Asian11.1%
- 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.
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.
7
Total schools
7
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 John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking
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
Elmbridge Lane, Woking
Woking, GU22 9AL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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