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St Paul's Catholic School

Milton Keynes, MK6 5ENSecondaryAges 11–19MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Feb 2023
Progress 8
+0.53
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.4×
Oversubscribed
249 1st-choice / 178 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#467 of 3,141 nationally

About St Paul's Catholic School

St Paul’s Catholic School is a state secondary in Milton Keynes that is significantly oversubscribed, and the numbers explain why. The school has 1,886 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,050, meaning it is operating well above its official limit. For the 2025/26 admissions cycle, there were 590 applications for 178 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.31. Of those, 249 families put it as their first preference, and 174 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 8.4%, which is below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake. The school is Roman Catholic in character, though the data does not specify whether faith criteria are used in admissions. It is one of only three schools in Milton Keynes rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and it ranks first out of 12 secondary schools in the local authority on Progress 8.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressPhoenix Drive, Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes, MK6 5EN
HeadteacherJo-Anne Hoarty
Local AuthorityMilton Keynes
Number of Pupils1,886
Free School Meals (FSM)8.4%
School Capacity1,886 / 1,050 (180% 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

28 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Dining HallSwimming PoolArt StudiosAstro TurfTennis CourtsTheatreChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

14

Sports

CricketBadmintonBasketballDanceRugbyFootball

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperBook ClubDramaEco ClubGardeningModel United NationsChoirOrchestra

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Paul's Catholic School

St Paul's Catholic School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.