St Ursula's Convent School
81%
Capacity
549
Pupils
1.2x
Demand
About St Ursula's Convent School
St Ursula's Convent School is a girls' secondary in Greenwich that currently has 549 pupils against a capacity of 675, leaving room for growth. Its intake is economically diverse, with 24.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average and reflecting the school's role in a borough with significant deprivation. For the 2025/26 intake, the school offered 105 places and received 123 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.17 applicants per place. However, only 23 of those applications were first-preference offers, which suggests many families list it as a lower choice. As a Roman Catholic state school, it draws from a faith-based catchment, though the admissions data does not specify how religious criteria are applied. The school serves girls from age 11 to 16 and does not have a sixth form, so pupils must move on after Year 11.
Academically, St Ursula's presents a mixed picture. Its Progress 8 score of 0.09 is just below the Greenwich local authority average of 0.1, placing it 8th out of 19 similar schools in the borough and 7th out of 15 when ranked by the same metric. That score is rated 'Average' in the national banding system, meaning pupils overall make about as much progress as peers nationally. English is a relative strength, with a Progress 8 score of 0.63, while open elements and EBacc subjects are slightly negative. Attainment 8 sits at 50.9, and 79.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is high at 84.5%, though only 28.7% achieved a grade 5 or above in those subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Requires Improvement across all categories, a significant drop from its previous Outstanding rating in 2015.
The school offers a strong range of facilities for a state secondary, including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, and chapel, alongside science labs, art studios, and a library. Sports provision is broad, with rowing, hockey, and gymnastics among the options, and clubs include Young Enterprise, Eco Club, and Science Club. SEND support covers a wide spectrum, from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to speech and language needs, which is useful for families whose children require additional help. The school is oversubscribed but not fiercely so, and with spare capacity relative to its total places, it may be a realistic option for families who miss out on more popular local schools. It suits families who value a single-sex Catholic environment but are comfortable with a school in transition, given the recent Ofsted downgrade. Those seeking a sixth form will need to plan for a post-16 move elsewhere.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Crooms Hill, London, Greenwich, SE10 8HN |
| Headteacher | Mark O'Shaughnessy |
| Local Authority | Greenwich |
| Number of Pupils | 549 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 24.9% |
| School Capacity | 549 / 675 (81% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Jan 2024Overall Effectiveness
Requires improvement
Source: Ofsted, 18 Mar 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.09)
1321st of 3,141
Nationally
331st of 487
In London
7th of 15
In Greenwich
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
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.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2371%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 119 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)71%
- Sixth form college15%
- FE college9%
- Employment1%
100% 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed105
123
Balanced
Applications roughly match available places
23 families put this school as their 1st choice (19% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Mixed13.2%
- White British9.8%
- White (other)7.3%
- Black7.3%
- Asian6.8%
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
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half 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.
26
Total schools
20
Oversubscribed
15
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 Ursula's Convent 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
Crooms Hill, London
Greenwich, SE10 8HN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at St Ursula's Convent School!
Write a Review