Classpot

The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School

Kensington and Chelsea, W14 8BZSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Nov 2021
Progress 8
+1.00
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
2.0×
Oversubscribed
253 1st-choice / 124 places
Ranking
🏆Top 5%
#81 of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
Address89 Addison Road, London, Kensington and Chelsea, W14 8BZ
HeadteacherPaul Stubbings
Local AuthorityKensington and Chelsea
Number of Pupils1,024
Free School Meals (FSM)17.9%
School Capacity1,024 / 922 (111% 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

16 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 17 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

13
Art StudiosLibraryDining HallTheatreScience LabsSports HallAstro TurfICT SuiteSwimming PoolPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsChapelSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

GymnasticsRowingDanceFootballMartial ArtsBadminton

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubFilm ClubBook ClubNewspaperEco ClubCodingChess

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

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

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:40 – 15:30

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School

The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.