Best Catholic secondary schools in London

Recent parent here, I’d avoid. The previous head ruined it imo and the current head is even worse. Any good results they get are via those girls whose parents can afford private tutors. When my youngest was there one of the science teachers spent every Saturday in the local library tutoring GCSE science to various girls. Such a shame as it was a lovely and high performing school when my oldest went there (under Dr carpenter).

Not always

which is why I said majority

All of the schools we’ve looked at or considered a plane to have different admission policies. For example, Saint Richard Reynolds used to do a lottery for those living in the borough. Other schools take certain percentages from different deaneries- with certain ones having a much larger percentage (usually those closest). You can usually find this information on School websites within the admissions policies.

Not always - I know of one which is 2km and another one is 3km in one direction although more in the other direction (based on parish rather than catchment)
Plus with sibling priority can be very variable
Just need to check

Agree, the catholic schools I know have a pan - london catchment, very wide. When I visited the Oratory last year I was shown around by a kid travelling from High Wycombe...

Just always check the admission policy

@Annoyeddd the majority of catholic secondaries have much wider "catchments" then non faith options.

Marymount in Kingston. It's an IB school though, not sure if you'd be interested in that.

You do realise that even Catholic state secondary schools have catchment areas - some of which can be quite small and even if you are at mass every day and run everything at the church then you are not certain of getting a place
At one time (when Tony Blair's boy started) the Oratory ran like that, other schools did a points based application (parish council, helping with sunday school, polishing the candlesticks)
Now it's get your certificate of weekly or monthly (in some areas) attendance dig out your EHCP or free school meals letter and hope you live close enough to the school gate

What about the one in Ealing - Cardinal Wiseman? Other than it being next to the tip (very off putting) it gets good grades. Anyone know what it's like?

I know people who would not even go to the open day because of its previous reputation. I know people who did and said it was impressive, but chose elsewhere as they wanted somewhere more academic (better grades) . I know people who put it as their first choice, so it must offer something to their child that London Oratory/Cardinal Vaughan or Sacred Heart/Gumley didn't.
A large amount of children being on on free school meals doesn't make it a bad school, but it does makes it a rich school that has extra money to spend that the more solid middle class intake schools don't get!

I hear mixed stuff about Gumley (my daughter is still primary age, only boys at secondary).

I second the St Marks recommendation, I think that it is a fabulous school and their progress 8 score is huge meaning that the attainment of children from ks2 compared to ks4 is well above average- https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/englands-top-20-state-secondary-schools-for-2024-released-based-on-governments-new-gcse-data

You could look at All Saints Catholic College in W10 (mixed). Some parents I know recently went to the open day and said it was very, very impressive. Head was recently in news for trialing an extending school day to help kids study. The catchment puts some people off as it's near large council estate and previously non-Catholics from this estate got places and the reputation wasn't good (we are talking 10 years ago when it was just a girls school) demographics have changed so much so who knows who goes now. I do think it has turned around somewhat as parents in my DCs school were putting it as their first choice. You'd have to go see it and decide - would be handy for work and after school options. Doesn't get the grades of Sacred Heart but doesn't have the reputation for being as strict.

Scared Heart in Hammersmith

Ursuline in Wimbledon

Two more for your list are St Marks (Hounslow, very strict, very, very popular) and Richard Reynolds in Twickenham (very good pastorally I've heard but not quite hit the grades the other schools have).

Yes, I can't believe it is super competitive due to other good options all over North London. There is (super competitive) Henrietta Barnet, Camden School for Girls and a very good mixed Catholic comp in Finchley. They really only take practicing Catholic girls - as as long as you have the certificate of Catholic practice you would be one of a small pool of girls who would be applying. It's isn't really practical for anyone not living in the area as it's a good walk from public transport.

St Michaels is a lot easier to get into these days. I believe this year there were 274 sitting the exam and they admit around 120 girls each year.

Sacred Heart Hammersmith.

La Retraite

The Oratory is a private boarding school near Reading. The London Oratory is a state boys school from 8-16, with mixed sixth form.

Mixed. Someone I trust tells me the girls are lovely, and they all say they had lovely time there. Then you get parents complaining about bullying (although this is hearsay as the ones I've heard it from don't have children there yet). Biggest complaint I hear is lack of after school options (schools ends at 3.10 so that's a lot of time to fill).

Best are in Surrey - Leatherhead, Guildford, Woking and Salesian in Egham. Think there are four in the trust. Think you can get into these by the usual route (feeder primary then distance from home). Ursuline gets very, very good reviews. Gumley in Isleworth is worth considering. Sacred Heart is very good but has a massive feeder school catchment and offers places on a ballot system. So you can't be strategic and live nearby, it's just down to good luck.