The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School

About The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School

The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School’s headline Progress 8 score of 1.0 places it well above the Kensington and Chelsea local authority average of 0.4, a gap that marks it out as the highest-performing school in the borough. Among eight secondary schools in the LA, it ranks first, and its Progress 8 banding is officially classed as “well above average.” This is not a marginal lead: the school’s score is more than double the local average, and its national percentile of 2.6 puts it in the top 3% of all schools in England. For a boys’ Roman Catholic state school in central London, that level of academic value-add is striking. The school is also heavily oversubscribed, with 733 applications for 124 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, and 253 first-preference applications for just 102 offers — a ratio of nearly six applicants per place. That demand reflects a reputation that the data clearly supports.

At GCSE, the school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 67.4, and 96.8% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 85.5% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average points score is 5.83, and 28.2% of pupils entered the EBacc combination. Progress 8 breakdowns show strong performance across the board: English progress is 1.02, maths 0.65, and the EBacc subjects 0.99, with the open element highest at 1.23. At A-level, the school’s average points per entry is 42.67, equivalent to a B+ grade, and the best three A-levels average a B+ as well. The value-added score for sixth form is -0.02, which falls into the “average” band, suggesting that while GCSE outcomes are exceptional, sixth-form progress is more in line with expectations. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2021 awarded Outstanding across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and sixth-form provision — a clean sweep that it also achieved in its previous 2006 inspection.

The school operates on a single site in Kensington and Chelsea, with a capacity of 922 but currently housing 1,024 pupils, so it is running above its official capacity. Facilities include a theatre, chapel, swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, and a sixth-form centre. The school supports a wide range of SEND needs, from dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorder to physical disability and multi-sensory impairment. With 17.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a more diverse intake than its selective reputation might suggest. The combination of outstanding Ofsted grades, top-tier Progress 8 scores, and heavy oversubscription means this school suits families who are confident their son can thrive in a high-pressure, academically driven Catholic environment. It is not a school for those seeking a more relaxed pace — but for those aiming high, the data is unequivocal.

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