The Palmer Catholic Academy
98%
Capacity
1,155
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About The Palmer Catholic Academy
The Palmer Catholic Academy is a mixed Roman Catholic secondary school in Redbridge that is clearly in demand. With 1,155 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,174, it is running very close to full, and its 2025/26 admissions data confirms the pressure: 334 applications for 161 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07. Only 76 of 77 first-preference applicants received offers, meaning the school is heavily oversubscribed even among families who put it top of their list. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.8%, which is notably above the national average for secondary schools and suggests a genuinely comprehensive intake. The school’s religious character is Roman Catholic, and while the data does not specify admissions criteria, the combination of high demand and a faith-based ethos likely shapes the profile of the families who secure places.
Academically, the school delivers results that are comfortably above average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.49 places it in the ‘above average’ banding nationally, meaning pupils typically achieve nearly half a grade more per subject than similar students elsewhere. That score ranks the school 10th out of 16 secondaries in Redbridge, though it sits behind the local authority average Progress 8 of 0.59. In the 2023/24 KS4 results, 75.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, and the Attainment 8 score of 50.4 is solid. At A-level, the school’s value-added score of 0.23 is also above average, with students averaging a C grade per entry and 10.6% achieving at least AAB in two facilitating subjects. The sixth form is a clear strength, with progress banded as ‘above average’ and a points-per-entry grade of C.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a sports hall, swimming pool, theatre, chapel, and dedicated sixth form centre. Sports provision covers football, cricket, hockey, and martial arts, while extracurricular clubs include Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a newspaper. SEND support is broad, covering dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, among others. For families weighing up options, the school sits just 0.4 km from Ark Isaac Newton Academy, the nearest Outstanding-rated secondary in the borough, which may be a useful comparison. The Palmer Catholic Academy suits families who want a large, oversubscribed faith school with strong academic progress across both GCSE and sixth form, and a genuinely diverse intake.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Aldborough Road South, Ilford, Redbridge, IG3 8EU |
| Headteacher | Paul Downey |
| Local Authority | Redbridge |
| Number of Pupils | 1,155 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.8% |
| School Capacity | 1,155 / 1,174 (98% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Jan 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (26 Jan 2022): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 7 Nov 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.49)
523rd of 3,141
Nationally
171st of 487
In London
10th of 16
In Redbridge
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more 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
34.0
'22/23
28.9
'23/24
31.1
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
2022/2363%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 193 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)63%
- FE college27%
- Sixth form college4%
- Not sustained3%
95% 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
2022/2376%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 136 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
20%
Russell Group
28%
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)76%
- Not sustained7%
- Employment6%
- Further education2%
- 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- Mathematics45
- Biology31
- Chemistry27
- Economics23
- Psychology23
- Sociology21
- Physics18
- Government and Politics16
- Media/Film/Tv Studies16
- History14
- Geography12
- Computer Studies / Computing10
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed161
334
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
77 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% 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 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
- Asian48.2%
- White (other)8.6%
- Mixed8.0%
- White British3.8%
- Black3.1%
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.
18
Total schools
18
Oversubscribed
14
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 Palmer Catholic Academy
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
Aldborough Road South, Ilford
Redbridge, IG3 8EU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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