Ages 
Faith-inspired, spirited leadership, first-rate teaching and a real family feel all combine to make this a wonderfully welcoming, aspirational school.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 1,082 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 282 ·
- Religion
- RC
- Local authority
- Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council
Headteacher
Head
Mr Sean Maher
Since 2015, Sean Maher BA. Previously deputy head, rising through the ranks after being offered first post here four weeks into teacher training back in 2001. Departed temporarily on secondment to a Catholic secondary in Kent, which he transformed
Entrance
With hefty oversubscription and around four/five applicants for each of 150 year 7 places, it's essential to be realistic. ‘If you’re a practising Catholic and you’re in one of our feeder schools [Corpus Christi, Our Lady Immaculate, Sacred Heart,
- Open days
- October
Entry and exit data - year 7 entry (average 2020-2022)
Exit
Over a third leave after GCSEs. Majority of year 13 leavers move on to higher education with many gaining places at Russell Group universities. King’s College London, Leeds, Surrey, Loughborough, Nottingham, Kingston and Southampton all popular. One
% 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, 32 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 92 per cent 9-4 in both maths and English; 26 per cent A*/A at A level (48 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
It’s a brave head who claims every single child in the school is engaged with learning, not least because we always put it rigorously to test during our tour. But this head could safely put his money where his mouth is. In every class we visited,
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
Two-pronged specialist provision. Around 15 children with social and emotional difficulties (‘the ones who often found themselves sat outside the head’s office in primary school and have ADHD, ASD and/or complex family lives’) utilise the on-site
Arts & extracurricular
Head squirms at the term ‘extracurricular’, favouring ‘wider curricular’, which reflects his belief that everyone should engage beyond the classroom – and it spills over into evenings and weekends. Definitely not, then, the right place for staff, or
Sport
‘Some people think that winning isn’t everything – I don’t agree,’ said head, pausing to see our reaction before laughing at his own joke. In reality, sport for mental health is the raison d’être of this department, so engagement is top of the agenda
Ethos & heritage
Catholicism at its best though you don’t have to share head’s beliefs to get the most from it, with one boy telling us he lacks faith ‘and that’s considered fine – it’s more about the values’. Chapel lacks wow factor of some Catholic schools, though
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
‘We talk about the Challoner family and like all families, we are firm at times and throw our arms round each other at other times,’ says head. As in best-run families, school discipline is mainly achieved effectively and consistently with minimum of
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review Mobile phones are not allowed to be used in any way (including charging) once the students are on the school premises. This includes using a ‘smart watch’ to interact with my mobile phone. If mobile phones were allowed to be used or seen in school, it is inevitable that lessons would be disrupted on a regular basis, with phones ringing and pupils communicating with each other. If a mobile phone rings or is seen under any circumstances by a member of staff during the school day, it is confiscated by the school for a full week from the date the phone is taken by the member of staff. The use of mobile phones on school trips or visits will be at the discretion of the member of staff.
Pupils & parents
Family feel is pervasive, with 16 or so girls joining modestly co-ed sixth form each year (plus many more who come over from Holy Cross) instantly slotting in, praised by head for sparkiness and openness to change. Biggest ethnic minority is Polish –
Money matters
Ninety-eight per cent take-up of the £20 a month voluntary contributions. Thriving PTA raises £35-40,000 a year.
The last word
Faith-inspired, spirited leadership, first-rate teaching and a real family feel all combine to make this a wonderfully welcoming, aspirational school.
Inspection reports
Ofsted reports
Full inspection: Outstanding
You can read full reports on the Ofsted website
| Personal development | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Sixth form provision | Outstanding |
