Ages 
A safe, calm and orderly place to go to school, with a strong spiritual core, providing a rich all-round education and producing industrious, articulate, responsible girls.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,166 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 560 ·
- Religion
- RC
- Local authority
- London Borough of Camden
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Headteacher
Sophie Fegan
Since 2017, Sophie Fegan. Frenchwoman Mrs Fegan (who retains a slight accent) began at the school teaching French in 2008. Since then, she’s moved up the ranks from (popular) teacher, to head of year, then deputy head, so no radical changes expected
Entrance
Oversubscribed with admissions criteria that don’t admit much leeway on the faith front, so realistically only thoroughly practising Catholics need apply. That said, living next to the school gates is not essential, and girls come from north, south,
- Open days
- September and October
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Reasonably large exodus post-GCSE, with about half departing for other RC schools (such as Cardinal Vaughan and the London Oratory) or local FE colleges (City and Islington and Westminster Kingsway). At 18, everywhere and anywhere, with top
% students progressing to higher education or training (2021 leavers)
What is this?
The proportion of 16-18 students that progressed to degrees, higher apprenticeships or other study at level 4 or above for at least 6 consecutive months in the 2 years after taking advanced level qualifications (level 3) at this school or college.
Latest results
In 2024, 50 per cent 9-6 at GCSE; at A level 19 per cent A*/A (47 per cent A*-B). In 2022, at A level, about 50 per cent A*-B.
GCSE - % of pupils achieving grade 5 or above (A* to C) in English and maths GCSE (2024)
What is this?
This tells you the percentage of pupils who achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths GCSEs.
A level - Average points score (2024)
What is this?
These figures tell you the average grade and average points that pupils achieved in their academic qualifications. A maximum of 60 points are available for a grade A* at A level.
Teaching & learning
The head is emphatic that this is a ‘traditional school offering a traditional curriculum with no short cuts’: ‘We aim to nurture a love of learning, engaging with difficult things and exposing learners to high culture.’ (So, year 9 study the work of
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Those requiring additional assistance are quickly identified, monitored by a senior member of staff, dedicated SENDCo, learning support assistants and SEN governor, and aided by small classes for English and maths, literacy and numeracy catch-up
Arts & extracurricular
Impressive extracurricular, with a stimulating range of activities available before and after school and at lunchtime. (Everything from Afro culture to manga, feminist committee to cheerleading, gardening to first aid.) All the arts flourish (‘We
Sport
Sport well catered for with own courts and gym providing scope for basketball, netball, handball, athletics, rounders, trampolining and rugby (with one girl recently selected for Middlesex County). Girls compete regularly in Camden competitions
Ethos & heritage
Founded in 1861 by the sisters of La Sainte Union, a French order of nuns, for much of its history LSU was an independent Catholic boarding school, before becoming an all-girls comprehensive in the 1970s. Boys have been admitted into the sixth form
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
A safe and pleasant place to go to school, with attendance and behaviour both exemplary. Girls in tartan pleats and forest-green blazers are generally orderly and well brushed. ‘When they enter and leave, they’re appropriately dressed. Paying
Pupils & parents
Over 90 per cent baptised Catholics, but culturally and socially diverse, united by an atmosphere of respect and cooperation. Pupils – quite often the daughters of old girls - are generally cooperative and industrious. ‘There are a lot of studious
Money matters
Not a rich school by any means, either in terms of its students (about a third in receipt of pupil premium) or endowments, but no one seems to suffer the lack. Active Parents and Friends Association raises funds to subsidise school trips, buy
The last word
A safe, calm and orderly place to go to school, with a strong spiritual core, providing a rich all-round education and producing industrious, articulate, responsible girls.
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection:
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Good |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form provision | Good |
Full inspection: Good
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Sixth form provision | Good |
