Classpot

St Matthew Academy

Lewisham, SE3 0XXSecondaryAges 4–16MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Mar 2025
Progress 8
+0.57
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.4×
Not oversubscribed
66 1st-choice / 157 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#407 of 3,141 nationally

About St Matthew Academy

Parents considering St Matthew Academy will be reassured by the strength of feeling among current families. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, a remarkable 94% of respondents said they would recommend the school to other parents. That confidence is backed by very strong individual scores: 95% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 95% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 94% agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 96% said the school has high expectations for their child. The school is also heavily oversubscribed. For entry in 2025/26, St Matthew received 479 applications for just 157 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.05 to one. Only 62 of those places went to first-preference applicants, underlining just how competitive admission is at this popular Lewisham Roman Catholic secondary.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range4 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressSt Joseph's Vale, Blackheath, London, Lewisham, SE3 0XX
HeadteacherJames Potter
Local AuthorityLewisham
Number of Pupils1,065
Free School Meals (FSM)35.0%
School Capacity1,065 / 1,650 (65% full)

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Mar 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 28 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Swimming PoolDining HallAstro TurfSports HallScience LabsPlaying FieldsICT SuiteLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

TennisSwimmingRoundersRugbyGymnasticsNetballBadminton

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubDebateYoung EnterpriseCodingScience ClubDramaFilm ClubGardeningArt Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Matthew Academy

St Matthew Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.