Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #7 in Surrey public Top 3% UK

St Paul's Catholic College

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr James Mc Nulty

corporate_fareASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST

location_onSunbury-on-Thames, TW16 6JE

language Visit Website phone 1932783811

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2017

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Students

1,304

trending_up

Attainment 8

61.8

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GCSE Rank

#7 in Surrey

#209 of 3,216 nationally

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St Paul's Catholic College is a Academy converter secondary school in Sunbury-on-Thames, serving ages 11-18. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.2×) — apply through your local authority on time.

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School Summary

St Paul's Catholic College is an academy converter in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of ASCENSION CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 1,366 pupils on roll, of whom 13% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 61.8, placing the school #7 in Surrey and #209 of 3,216 nationally. 75.10% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 42.9% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 22 A-level subjects. 63.7% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 30.3% at A*–A. A-level value added: 0.05 — sixth-form progress was broadly average.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2017. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.2× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.5:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 1.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

61.8

Grade 5+ E&M

75.10%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)42.9%

Entering EBacc57.40%

EBacc APS5.75

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.85

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

57.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc53.60%

EBacc APS5.28

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)96%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment1%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)1%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.05

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

B-

Students

110

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*10.2%

Achieving A*–A30.3%

Achieving A*–B63.7%

VA Banding Average

Retention rate97.3%

A-level subjects offered22

2024

A-Level Value Added

+0.04

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

Students

105

Retention rate96.20%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

30 January 2024

Inspection Report

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07 December 2022

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

2 Evaluations

2017-10-31

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2013-03-12

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.1%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

1.0%(14 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,366 pupils. During this period, there were 15 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.1%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,366	15	1.1%	7.3%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,367	33	2.4%	7.8%	1
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,328	31	2.3%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,333	25	1.9%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,335	22	1.6%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,304	46	3.5%	6.6%	1
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,304	34	2.6%	6.4%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,300	34	2.6%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,283	32	2.5%	4.7%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Specific Learning Difficulty 56 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 34 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 25 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 24 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 15 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 11 pupils

Physical Disability 6 pupils

Hearing Impairment 2 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 2 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

96.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree30%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree62%

agree34%

disagree2%

strongly disagree1%

don't know2%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree43%

agree15%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

not applicable34%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes17%

no83%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree57%

agree32%

disagree9%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree74%

agree24%

disagree1%

don't know1%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree32%

disagree3%

don't know2%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree66%

agree30%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree36%

disagree2%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree62%

agree34%

disagree2%

don't know2%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree51%

agree39%

disagree3%

strongly disagree2%

don't know6%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes96%

no4%

Top Secondary Schools in Surrey

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Salesian School, Chertsey

Outstanding

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Rosebery School

Outstanding

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Gordon's School

Outstanding

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Hinchley Wood School

Outstanding

location_on Esher, KT10 0AQ

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Weydon School

Good

location_on Farnham, GU9 8UG

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St Peter's Catholic School

Outstanding

location_on Guildford, GU1 2TN

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View all schools in Surrey arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Surrey

Salesian School, Chertsey

Rosebery School

Gordon's School

Hinchley Wood School

Weydon School

St Peter's Catholic School