The Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School
141%
Capacity
1,994
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About The Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School
The Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School in Ealing was rated Good across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.05, which is classified as Average and places it 14th out of 16 state secondary schools in the borough. That score is notably below the Ealing local authority average of 0.5, but the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects: pupils made positive progress in English (0.19) and maths (0.1), while the open element of the Progress 8 measure was slightly weaker at -0.2. The Attainment 8 score of 43.6 means the average pupil achieved just under a grade 5 across their best eight GCSEs, and 68.2% secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths.
At A-level, the school’s value added score of -0.34 is classed as Below average, with students averaging a C- grade per entry and 27.54 points per entry. Only 2.9% of entries were at AAB or higher. The sixth form was also rated Good by Ofsted, and with 86 pupils in the data, it is a sizeable but not enormous cohort. The school’s EBacc entry rate is 29.1%, and just 7.7% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 5 or above. Nationally, the school ranks 1,643 out of 3,141 schools by Progress 8, placing it in the bottom half of schools overall but around the middle of London schools.
The school is significantly oversubscribed: for 240 places in 2025/26, it received 414 applications, with 187 first-preference offers. That works out at 1.73 applicants per place. With 36.4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse and relatively disadvantaged intake. Facilities include a swimming pool, sports hall, astro turf, chapel, and a sixth form centre, and the school offers a wide range of clubs from Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Its SEND provision covers nine categories including autism, dyslexia, and speech and language needs. This is a large, faith-based secondary that has improved its Ofsted rating and offers a broad curriculum, but whose academic outcomes sit below the local average — a school that may suit families prioritising a Catholic environment and a strong pastoral and extracurricular offer over headline exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Greenford Road, Greenford, Ealing, UB6 9AW |
| Headteacher | Daniel Patrick Coyle |
| Local Authority | Ealing |
| Number of Pupils | 1,994 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 36.4% |
| School Capacity | 1,994 / 1,416 (141% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
30 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.05)
1643rd of 3,141
Nationally
371st of 487
In London
14th of 16
In Ealing
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
35.7
'22/23
28.1
'23/24
27.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2361%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 89 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
14%
Russell Group
18%
Top-third HE
1%
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)61%
- Employment19%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship4%
- 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed240
414
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
187 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British31.8%
- Asian15.2%
- White (other)12.0%
- Mixed6.7%
- Black2.9%
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.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given 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.
19
Total schools
19
Oversubscribed
13
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 The Cardinal Wiseman Catholic 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
Greenford Road, Greenford
Ealing, UB6 9AW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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