St Catherine's Catholic School
Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7QJOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Catherine's Catholic School is a secondary school in Bexley for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 90 schools in Bexley. It ranks 5th of 16 secondary schools in Bexley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2022.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 14 June 2022, report published 21 September 2022
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 14 June 2022
Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They work hard and achieve well. Pupils are kind and considerate to each other, and respectful to their teachers and other adults. Lessons are very rarely affected by poor behaviour. Pupils say that bullying sometimes happens, but when it does, staff deal with it effectively. Leaders prioritise pupils' well-being, including their mental health. Pupils are safe and know who to talk to if they have any concerns. Pupils benefit from a well-thought-out curriculum. This includes a carefully considered range of qualifications offered in Years 10 and 11. Teachers' strong subject knowledge and the very calm atmosphere in classrooms mean that pupils are able to learn well. This in turn leads to strong outcomes for pupils. Leaders have established a range of opportunities to develop pupils beyond the academic. For example, residential retreats, visits to museums, and a popular pupil- run garden in the school grounds all help to broaden pupils' experiences. A typical comment from a parent was, 'The school has been brilliant in supporting and nurturing my daughter academically, socially, emotionally and spiritually'.
What the school should improve
- Pupils who need the most help with reading do not currently receive an appropriate programme of support. This means that these pupils are not able to make the rapid improvements necessary to help them to read fluently. Leaders should put effective strategies in place to support weaker readers so that they can access the full scope of the curriculum.
- Some staff do not feel confident to deliver the planned PSHE sessions. This means that sometimes these sessions are not effective, and pupils do not fully benefit from the intended PSHE programme. Leaders should ensure that staff who deliver these sessions are appropriately trained and supported so that pupils gain a secure grasp of these important topics.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
210 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
1,021 pupils on roll, with places for 1,050
Schools near St Catherine's Catholic School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Columba's Catholic Boys' School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 51.4 |
| Lift Bexleyheath | 0.5 miles | Report card: Expected standard | Attainment 8: 41.1 |
| Beths Grammar School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 71.6 |
| Townley Grammar School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 75.0 |
| Haberdashers' Crayford Academy | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.2 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ST CATHERINE'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Girls
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Nicola Thompson
- Phone
- 01322556333
- Address
- Watling Street, Bexleyheath, DA6 7QJ
- Local authority
- Bexley
- URN
- 137681
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.