St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School
80%
Capacity
660
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School
St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School is a popular choice among Southwark families, and the numbers back that up. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 206 applications for 91 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.26. That means more than two families applied for every spot, and only 45 first-preference offers were made. While the school doesn't publish a parent recommendation percentage, the high demand suggests a strong local reputation. It's a girls' secondary with a Church of England character, led by headteacher Catherine May, and currently has 660 pupils on roll against a capacity of 825, so there is some room for growth. The school also has a dedicated sixth form, which adds to its appeal for families looking for a continuous secondary pathway.
Academically, St Saviour's and St Olave's performs well above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.58 is notably higher than the Southwark average of 0.46, and the school ranks 6th out of 19 similar schools in the borough. Nationally, it sits in the top 13% of schools for Progress 8. At GCSE, 77.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the average Attainment 8 score was 56. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding mark for personal development. Its previous inspection in 2009 had been Outstanding across the board, so the current rating still reflects strong performance. At A-level, the picture is more mixed: the value-added score is -0.38, which is below average, and the average points per entry grade is a C. This suggests the sixth form may suit students who have already built a solid foundation at GCSE.
The school offers a good range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, and a chapel, plus dedicated art studios and a sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and dance, and there are plenty of clubs such as Model UN, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and coding. For families with children who have additional needs, the school provides support for a wide range of SEND categories, including dyslexia, autism, and speech and language difficulties. With 54.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and inclusive community. Given its strong GCSE results and oversubscribed places, this is a school that suits families who prioritise academic progress and a supportive, faith-based environment, particularly for girls who may want to continue through to sixth form.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | New Kent Road, London, Southwark, SE1 4AN |
| Headteacher | Catherine May |
| Local Authority | Southwark |
| Number of Pupils | 660 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 54.4% |
| School Capacity | 660 / 825 (80% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
16 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 16 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.58)
400th of 3,141
Nationally
143rd of 487
In London
6th of 19
In Southwark
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.8
'22/23
30.7
'23/24
31.6
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2370%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 123 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)70%
- FE college13%
- Sixth form college11%
- Employment1%
- Not sustained1%
98% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 72 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
30%
Russell Group
30%
Top-third HE
5%
Oxford / Cambridge
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)68%
- Employment17%
- Not sustained6%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education1%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Sociology25
- Psychology17
- Mathematics14
- Economics12
- English Literature10
- Biology9
- Chemistry9
- Art and Design8
- Physics7
- Religious Studies7
- Art and Design (Photography)5
- Design and Technology (Product Design)5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed91
206
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
45 families put this school as their 1st choice (22% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian8.5%
- Black7.6%
- White British6.4%
- Mixed6.1%
- White (other)5.8%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
35
Total schools
31
Oversubscribed
25
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England 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
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
New Kent Road, London
Southwark, SE1 4AN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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