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St Philomena's Catholic High School for Girls[1]

Secondary · ages 11–18

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Headline results

Attainment 8
A8 54 54.4 2025/26[2]
A-level average grade
AL B- B- 2024/25[3]

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
54.4 2025/26[2]
Grade 5+ in English & maths
57.6% 2025/26[2]
Grade 7+ in English & maths
20.5% 2025/26[2]
Progress 8
+0.68 2023/24[4]
Progress 8, 2025/26
Not calculated[5]
Progress 8, 2024/25
Not calculated[5]
Earlier years
Year Attainment 8 Grade 5+ in English & maths Grade 7+ in English & maths Progress 8
2024/25 57.2[6] 60%[6]
2023/24 57.7[4] 63.8%[4] +0.68[4]
2022/23 58.8[7] 65%[7] +0.60[7]
2021/22 63.1[8] 75%[8] +0.71[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
B- 2024/25[3]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
19.7% 2024/25[3]
All results, 2020/21
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
All results, 2019/20
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
Earlier years
Year A-level average grade AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
2023/24 B-[10] 12.4%[10]
2022/23 B-[11] 17.8%[11]
2021/22 B[12] 18.1%[12]
2018/19 B-[13] 11.8%[13]

Destinations after GCSEs

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
97% 2022/23[14]
School sixth form
75% 2022/23[14]
Sixth-form college
9% 2022/23[14]
Further education college
12% 2022/23[14]
Apprenticeship
0% 2022/23[14]
Employment
0% 2022/23[14]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment School sixth form Sixth-form college Further education college Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 100%[15] 82%[15] 6%[15] 10%[15] 0%[15]
2020/21 99%[16] 78%[16] 12%[16] 7%[16] 1%[16] 1%[16]
2019/20 98%[17] 85%[17] 4%[17] 8%[17] 0%[17] 0%[17]
2018/19 99%[18] 79%[18] 7%[18] 10%[18] 1%[18] 0%[18]

Destinations after 16–18 study

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
95% 2022/23[19]
UK higher education
83% 2022/23[19]
Education
86% 2022/23[19]
Apprenticeship
1% 2022/23[19]
Employment
8% 2022/23[19]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment UK higher education Education Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 92%[20] 70%[20] 71%[20] 3%[20] 18%[20]
2020/21 93%[21] 78%[21] 85%[21] 2%[21] 7%[21]
2019/20 91%[22] 77%[22] 81%[22] 6%[22] 4%[22]
2018/19 94%[23] 76%[23] 81%[23] 3%[23] 10%[23]

Higher education after 16–18 study

Progressed to higher education
82% 2021/22[24]
Top third of most selective universities
34% 2021/22[24]
Russell Group universities
25% 2019/20[25]
Oxford or Cambridge
2% 2019/20[25]
Earlier leavers
Left in Progressed to higher education Top third of most selective universities Russell Group universities Oxford or Cambridge
2020/21 89%[26] 44%[26]
2019/20 88%[25] 26%[25] 25%[25] 2%[25]
2018/19 85%[27] 20%[27] 21%[27] 1%[27]
2017/18 84%[28] 25%[28] 22%[28] 2%[28]

Shares of the pupils who left in the year shown. Russell Group and Oxford or Cambridge figures were published for leavers up to 2019/20 only.

Ofsted

Latest inspection
24 Feb 2022[29]
Type
S5 Inspection[29]
Report published
9 May 2022[29]
Personal development
Good[29]
Quality of education
Good[29]
Overall effectiveness
Good[29]
Behaviour and attitudes
Good[29]
Safeguarding is effective
Yes[29]
Sixth form provision (where applicable)
Outstanding[29]
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good[29]

Competition to get in

Applications and offers, Year 7

Applications per place
3.3 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Applications (any preference)
771 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences
235 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Places offered
231 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences per place
1.0 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Earlier years
Entry Applications First preferences Places offered Per place First preferences per place
Entry Sept 2025 752[30] 225[30] 230[30] 3.3[30] 1.0[30]
Entry Sept 2024 833[30] 293[30] 242[30] 3.4[30] 1.2[30]
Entry Sept 2023 836[30] 293[30] 260[30] 3.2[30] 1.1[30]
Entry Sept 2022 816[30] 309[30] 246[30] 3.3[30] 1.3[30]

Character & practicalities

Type
Voluntary aided school[1]
Ages
11–18[1]
Boys / girls
Girls[1]
Faith
Roman Catholic[1]
Admissions
Non-selective[1]
Sixth form
Yes[1]
Boarding
No boarders[1]
Capacity
1549[1]
Local authority
Sutton[1]
Website
www.stphils.org.uk[1]
District
Sutton[31]
Postcode
SM5 3PS[1]
URN
103013[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
1408 2024/25[32]
English as an additional language
38% 2024/25[32]
SEN support
11.3% 2024/25[32]
EHC plan
1.5% 2024/25[32]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
18.1% 2024/25[32]

Pupils' ethnicity 2025/26

White
39.2%[33]
Mixed
12.3%[33]
Asian
19.4%[33]
Black
24.9%[33]
Any other ethnic group
2.7%[33]
Unclassified
1.6%[33]

The school census's major ethnic groups as shares of the school's pupils, summed by us from the published counts. For information only: never used to rank, filter or colour schools.

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
In the sixth-form, students produce work of an exceptionally high standard.[34]
Warmth
This is a caring learning community where pupils said they are part of a ‘big family’. They are polite, respectful, and welcoming towards each other, staff, and visitors.[34]
Pastoral care
Nonetheless, in a few instances, pupils do not feel fully confident reporting concerns to staff. Leaders are addressing this. well-being ‘ambassadors’ have recently been introduced to strengthen provision for pupils’ mental health.[34]
Behaviour
The school has a calm and orderly environment where low-level disruption is rare. Pupils behave well and show positive attitudes to their learning.[34]
Learning support
Leaders ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support they need to access the full curriculum along with their peers.[34]
Enrichment
Pupils attend a variety of exciting clubs. They also participate in many trips which aim to extend their horizons.[34]
Pupil voice
Sixth-form students’ excellent behaviour and attitudes mean they are strong role models for younger pupils.[34]
Structure
Teachers have high expectations of pupils’ conduct. Most pupils understand that the school rules create an environment which helps them to learn.[34]
Diversity
For example, pupils are taught about the value of democracy and how they can challenge discrimination.[34]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. Department for Education: Performance tables schools data (explore education statistics). Period 2025/26, provisional, published 2026-10-15. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  4. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  5. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2024/25: data guidance. Period 2024/25. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    It is not possible to calculate Progress 8 for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26 due to gaps in the baseline caused by COVID-19 disruption.
  6. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  9. Department for Education: A level and other 16 to 18 results 2020/21. Period 2020/21. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, and alternative processes were set up to award grades.
  10. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  11. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  12. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  13. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  14. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  15. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  16. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  17. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  18. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  19. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  20. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  21. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  22. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  23. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  24. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  25. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  26. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  27. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  28. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2017/18, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  29. Ofsted: State-funded schools inspections and outcomes. Period 2021/22. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  30. Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers: school level. Period Entry Sept 2026, final, published 2026-06-29. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  31. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  32. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  33. Department for Education: Schools, pupils and their characteristics: school level underlying data. Period 2025/26, published 2026-06-04. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  34. files.ofsted.gov.uk: files.ofsted.gov.uk document. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quotes (12)
    This is a caring learning community where pupils said they are part of a 'big family' (p. 2)
    They are polite, respectful, and welcoming towards each other, staff, and visitors (p. 2)
    In the sixth-form, students produce work of an exceptionally high standard (p. 2)
    Nonetheless, in a few instances, pupils do not feel fully confident reporting concerns to staff. Leaders are addressing this (p. 2)
    well-being 'ambassadors' have recently been introduced to strengthen provision for pupils' mental health (p. 2)
    The school has a calm and orderly environment where low-level disruption is rare (p. 3)
    Pupils behave well and show positive attitudes to their learning (p. 3)
    For example, pupils are taught about the value of democracy and how they can challenge discrimination (p. 3)
    Teachers have high expectations of pupils' conduct. Most pupils understand that the school rules create an environment which helps them to learn (p. 2)
    Pupils attend a variety of exciting clubs. They also participate in many trips which aim to extend their horizons (p. 2)
    Sixth-form students' excellent behaviour and attitudes mean they are strong role models for younger pupils (p. 2)
    Leaders ensure that pupils with SEND receive the support they need to access the full curriculum along with their peers (p. 3)