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The Holy Cross School[1]

Secondary · ages 11–18

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Headline results

Attainment 8
A8 58 58.4 2025/26[2]
A-level average grade
AL B- B- 2024/25[3]

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
58.4 2025/26[2]
Grade 5+ in English & maths
72.8% 2025/26[2]
Grade 7+ in English & maths
28.5% 2025/26[2]
Progress 8
+0.95 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 59.2[6] 74.2%[6]
2023/24 58.6[4] 70.3%[4] +0.95[4]
2022/23 61.9[7] 77%[7] +1.03[7]
2021/22 63.6[8] 79%[8] +1.09[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
B- 2024/25[3]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
19.1% 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] 9.7%[10]
2022/23 B-[11] 18.1%[11]
2021/22 B[12] 19.1%[12]
2018/19 C[13] 9.1%[13]

Destinations after GCSEs

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
99% 2022/23[14]
School sixth form
70% 2022/23[14]
Sixth-form college
12% 2022/23[14]
Further education college
17% 2022/23[14]
Apprenticeship
1% 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 98%[15] 79%[15] 7%[15] 10%[15] 0%[15] 1%[15]
2020/21 99%[16] 78%[16] 8%[16] 9%[16] 0%[16] 0%[16]
2019/20 99%[17] 84%[17] 5%[17] 8%[17] 0%[17] 0%[17]
2018/19 97%[18] 81%[18] 1%[18] 14%[18] 1%[18] 0%[18]

Destinations after 16–18 study

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
92% 2022/23[19]
UK higher education
72% 2022/23[19]
Education
75% 2022/23[19]
Apprenticeship
3% 2022/23[19]
Employment
15% 2022/23[19]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment UK higher education Education Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 92%[20] 74%[20] 77%[20] 3%[20] 11%[20]
2020/21 88%[21] 63%[21] 68%[21] 4%[21] 16%[21]
2019/20 94%[22] 75%[22] 80%[22] 0%[22] 14%[22]
2018/19 89%[23] 58%[23] 67%[23] 2%[23] 20%[23]

Higher education after 16–18 study

Progressed to higher education
85% 2021/22[24]
Top third of most selective universities
24% 2021/22[24]
Russell Group universities
32% 2019/20[25]
Oxford or Cambridge
1% 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 83%[26] 34%[26]
2019/20 85%[25] 36%[25] 32%[25] 1%[25]
2018/19 78%[27] 18%[27] 18%[27] 1%[27]
2017/18 82%[28] 34%[28] 33%[28] 0%[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
18 May 2022[29]
Type
S5 Inspection[29]
Report published
6 Jul 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)
Good[29]
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Good[29]

Competition to get in

Applications and offers, Year 7

Applications per place
4.3 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Applications (any preference)
674 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences
165 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Places offered
157 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences per place
1.1 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Earlier years
Entry Applications First preferences Places offered Per place First preferences per place
Entry Sept 2025 629[30] 162[30] 155[30] 4.1[30] 1.0[30]
Entry Sept 2024 603[30] 167[30] 154[30] 3.9[30] 1.1[30]
Entry Sept 2023 635[30] 152[30] 155[30] 4.1[30] 1.0[30]
Entry Sept 2022 610[30] 162[30] 146[30] 4.2[30] 1.1[30]

Character & practicalities

Type
Academy converter[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
827[1]
Trust
THE HOLY CROSS SCHOOL[1]
Local authority
Kingston upon Thames[1]
Website
www.holycross.kingston.sch.uk[1]
District
Kingston upon Thames[31]
Postcode
KT3 5AR[1]
URN
138459[1]

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

Pupils

Number on roll
988 2024/25[32]
English as an additional language
26.1% 2024/25[32]
SEN support
12.6% 2024/25[32]
EHC plan
2.2% 2024/25[32]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
11.9% 2024/25[32]

Pupils' ethnicity 2025/26

White
58.4%[33]
Mixed
11.8%[33]
Asian
15%[33]
Black
6.9%[33]
Any other ethnic group
4.7%[33]
Unclassified
3.2%[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
Pupils are set high standards to achieve. They rise to leaders’ expectations and work hard in everything they do.[34]
Warmth
This is a welcoming school. Many pupils spoke of the sense of family in the school’s community. However, some pupils feel that staff do not resolve issues between friendship groups consistently well.[34]
Pastoral care
Pupils spoke highly of the support they get at the school’s inclusion centre, St Theresa’s.[34]
Behaviour
Pupils’ attitudes to learning are exemplary. Behaviour in class and around the school is calm.[34]
Learning support
However, some staff are not as clear about how to use these strategies effectively to support pupils with SEND across the curriculum. Leaders identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. Some pupils receive extra help before and after school.[34]
Enrichment
Pupils attend extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after school.[34]
Pupil voice
Older pupils help to run some of these, including dance, athletics and subject clubs like ‘maths pod’. Pupils in the ‘diversity group’ help to organise activities for events such as LGBT History Month and International Women’s Day.[34]
Collaboration
They are motivated and work together productively. Students in Year 13 like being part of the ‘Big Sisters’ programme. They enjoy looking out for younger pupils[34]
Structure
High expectations and established routines help to ensure that lessons are calm and free from disruption.[34]
Diversity
The school’s ethos is one of tolerance and respect.[34]
Performing arts
Subjects such as languages, history and the performing arts have high uptake at GCSE.[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 (15)
    This is a welcoming school. Many pupils spoke of the sense of family in the school's community (p. 2)
    However, some pupils feel that staff do not resolve issues between friendship groups consistently well (p. 2)
    Pupils are set high standards to achieve. They rise to leaders' expectations and work hard in everything they do (p. 2)
    Pupils spoke highly of the support they get at the school's inclusion centre, St Theresa's (p. 4)
    Pupils' attitudes to learning are exemplary. Behaviour in class and around the school is calm (p. 2)
    The school's ethos is one of tolerance and respect (p. 2)
    High expectations and established routines help to ensure that lessons are calm and free from disruption (p. 3)
    Pupils attend extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after school (p. 2)
    Older pupils help to run some of these, including dance, athletics and subject clubs like 'maths pod' (p. 2)
    Pupils in the 'diversity group' help to organise activities for events such as LGBT History Month and International Women's Day (p. 3)
    They are motivated and work together productively (p. 3)
    Students in Year 13 like being part of the 'Big Sisters' programme. They enjoy looking out for younger pupils (p. 2)
    Subjects such as languages, history and the performing arts have high uptake at GCSE (p. 2)
    However, some staff are not as clear about how to use these strategies effectively to support pupils with SEND across the curriculum (p. 3)
    Leaders identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) effectively. Some pupils receive extra help before and after school (p. 3)