St Matthew's RC High School
About St Matthew's RC High School
Parents considering St Matthew’s RC High School will find strong signals of satisfaction from those already there. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 87% of the 46 respondents said they would recommend the school. That’s a high vote of confidence. Digging into the detail, 94% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 96% felt their child is safe. On behaviour, 93% agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved. The school is also clearly popular: for 2025/26 admissions, it received 382 applications for 236 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.62. Of those, 157 were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. So while it’s a school in demand, first-preference applicants have a strong chance of getting in. The headteacher is Andrew Nightingale, and the school serves pupils aged 11 to 16.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 46 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Oct 2024From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 5 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
12Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: smrchs.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Matthew's RC High 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications