St John's Catholic Comprehensive

About St John's Catholic Comprehensive

St John's Catholic Comprehensive is a heavily oversubscribed secondary school in Gravesham, and the numbers tell a clear story of demand. For its 187 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 807 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.32. Of those, 275 were first-preference applications, and 169 first-preference offers were made. The school is currently operating above its official capacity of 1,184, with 1,322 pupils on roll. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.7%, which is notably higher than the national average for secondary schools, suggesting a genuinely comprehensive intake. As a Roman Catholic school, its religious character will be a factor for many families, though the admissions data does not specify how places are allocated by faith. The school is mixed, covers ages 11 to 18, and is led by headteacher Matthew Barron.

Academically, St John's sits in a solid middle ground. Its Progress 8 score of 0.11 is rated as 'Average' nationally, and it ranks 3rd out of 8 schools in the Gravesham local authority area. This is a meaningful achievement when you consider that the average Progress 8 score for all secondary schools in Kent is -0.13, meaning pupils here make slightly more progress than the typical Kent student. The Attainment 8 score is 43.6, and 64.3% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the school's value-added score is -0.24, which is rated 'Below average', and the average points per entry is 27.81, equivalent to a C- grade. The most common grade across the best three A-levels is a C. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and behaviour all judged Good. This is a significant improvement from its previous inspection, where it was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a chapel, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. Sports provision is broad, covering rowing, gymnastics, rugby, and cross country among others, and there are clubs such as Model UN, Young Enterprise, and Debate. The school lists provisions for a wide spectrum of SEND needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. Parent views are very positive: 93% of the 137 respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. This is a school that suits families looking for a large, popular Catholic secondary with strong core GCSE results and a genuinely inclusive intake, though those prioritising top-tier A-level outcomes may want to look at the grammar schools nearby, such as Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend, which is 1.8 km away and rated Outstanding.

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