St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall
97%
Capacity
1,461
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall
Parents considering St Thomas More Catholic School in Willenhall will find a school that is clearly in demand. For entry into Year 7 in the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 629 applications for just 227 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.77. Of those, 266 families put it as their first preference, and 203 first-preference offers were made. That level of competition suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent-view survey percentage to back that up directly. The school is a large Roman Catholic secondary for mixed genders aged 11 to 18, with a capacity of 1,500 and currently 1,461 pupils on roll. Headteacher Siobhan Bowen leads a school where 40.4 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, which gives important context for the academic results that follow.
Academically, the picture is mixed and worth looking at closely. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good across every category: overall effectiveness, quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. That is a solid improvement from its previous 2016 inspection, where sixth-form provision and leadership and management were both rated Requires Improvement. At GCSE, the school's Progress 8 score is -0.44, which is below the local authority average of -0.21 for Walsall, and places it 13th out of 20 similar schools in the area. Nationally, it sits in the bottom 20 per cent of schools on this measure. Attainment 8 sits at 42.1, and 52.1 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. At A-level, the average grade per entry is C-, with a value-added score of -0.1, which is rated as Average.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth-form centre, astro turf, sports hall, and science labs. There are extensive SEND provisions covering ten different needs, from dyslexia and autism to hearing and visual impairments. The clubs programme includes the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, Young Enterprise, and an Eco Club, while sports on offer range from rowing and martial arts to rugby and gymnastics. This is a school that will suit families who value a Catholic ethos and a large, diverse secondary with a strong sixth form, but who are realistic about academic outcomes that sit below the local average. The high oversubscription rate shows it remains a popular choice, but parents should weigh the Progress 8 data carefully against their child's needs.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Darlaston Lane, Willenhall, Wolverhampton, WV14 7BL |
| Headteacher | Siobhan Bowen |
| Local Authority | Walsall |
| Number of Pupils | 1,461 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 40.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,461 / 1,500 (97% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
11 Oct 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 24 Nov 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.44)
2522nd of 3,141
Nationally
285th of 371
In West Midlands
17th of 21
In Wolverhampton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less 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
26.9
'22/23
25.5
'23/24
26.4
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
2022/2350%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 235 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)50%
- FE college35%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment3%
92% 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
2022/2357%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 129 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
9%
Russell Group
9%
Top-third HE
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)57%
- Employment20%
- Not sustained15%
- Further education3%
- Apprenticeship2%
- Other 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- Psychology37
- Mathematics24
- Biology19
- Chemistry19
- Business Studies:Single18
- Sociology17
- Computer Studies / Computing13
- Art and Design (Photography)12
- History12
- Media/Film/Tv Studies10
- Design and Technology (Product Design)7
- English Literature7
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
14Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed227
629
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
266 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% 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
- White British40.0%
- Asian24.8%
- White (other)9.9%
- Mixed9.6%
- Black1.2%
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.
12
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
8
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About St Thomas More Catholic School, Willenhall
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
Darlaston Lane, Willenhall
Wolverhampton, WV14 7BL
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Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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