Classpot

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

Sutton, SM5 3PSSecondaryAges 11–18GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2022
Progress 8
+0.68
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.0×
Not oversubscribed
225 1st-choice / 230 places
Ranking
🏆Top 10%
#305 of 3,141 nationally

About St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls in Sutton is a state secondary that is clearly in high demand. With 1,408 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,549, the school is operating close to its limit, and the oversubscription figures confirm its popularity: for 230 places in the 2025/26 intake, there were 752 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.27. Of those, 225 put it as their first preference, and 186 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 16.8%, which is above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed socioeconomic intake. As a Roman Catholic girls’ school, it draws from a committed faith community, but the sheer number of applications — more than three for every place — indicates that its reputation extends well beyond that catchment. Headteacher Maria Noone leads a school that is both large and selective in practice, if not by entrance exam.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressShorts Road, Carshalton, Sutton, SM5 3PS
HeadteacherMaria Noone
Local AuthoritySutton
Number of Pupils1,408
Free School Meals (FSM)16.8%
School Capacity1,408 / 1,549 (91% 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

24 Feb 2022
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 9 May 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Science LabsSports HallGymnasiumTennis CourtsAstro TurfICT SuiteMusic RoomsDining HallSixth Form CentrePlaying FieldsLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

17

Sports

BasketballCross CountryDanceSwimmingAthleticsGymnasticsRoundersHockey

Clubs & Activities

NewspaperDramaChessCodingScience ClubGardeningDuke of EdinburghDebateModel United Nations

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:45 – 15:15

Source: stphils.org.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls

St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.