URSULINE HIGH WIMBLEDON

[Womblewimble]

Looking for feedback on URSULINE girls HIGH school wimbledon please. Can any past or especially current parents share how their dd are getting on? Does it have strong academics since the change of head? What are the girls generally like here, well behaved or not? If your from a non Catholic background esp keen to hear how your dd has found it.

I'm so conflicted, the site looks good- alot of seperate buildings for the girls to navigate but facilities seem ok- the only other school I viewed were ricards and nonsuch so I'm comparing to those.

Girls behaviour outside fo school really seems to be at conflict with the Catholic ethos of the school at times but I'm not sure if that just teenagers being teenagers! Or if there a more widespread lack of discipline in the school atm?

Are the girls pushed academically enough here?

Please provide feedback if you can, a desperate mum here not knowing what's best for her dd!

You can find the results here:
https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/102683/ursuline-high-school-wimbledon/secondary

As most of the Catholic schools this school have great results. Read also their Ofsted report.

Very good school but people who have the choice send their girls more keenly to Holy Cross.

I hadn’t heard of non Catholics getting in to be honest. Holy Cross reserves some places for non Catholics, the Ursuline doesn’t. Friends with children there are generally delighted with it.

If your from a non Catholic background esp keen to hear how your dd has found it.

If you are non Catholic then completely forget it as you are low on the admision criteria and the school is already oversubscribed and even some Catholic , Orthodox kids are not getting in

Is this still the same at sixth form? Is it still very oversubscribed and you need to attend Catholic Church for a bazillion years beforehand?

I think at sixth form there is a better chance for non catholics - this is based on having seen children in hijabs on the website!

Was that just for diversity compliance and box ticking... or real life!? I'll have to look at the website now to see this!

Children of other faiths definitely get in. I've seen a few and heard of a few who already attend.

Admission criteria aside can anyone offer feedback on the school if your dd goes there?

OP, what year group are you looking at? Year 7 Sept 24 has Catholics on the waiting list. As you move further up the school entirely likely that occasional places go to non Catholics because fewer people move then.

September 2025

Well, you never know - the birth rate is falling so if you like it, put it down. It’s got a very good reputation academically and for sport and drama. Generally considered quite hot on discipline

Children of other faiths are definitely not getting into secondary school at this particular school This school is oversubscribed. There is a waiting list. It never gets to Criterion 7.

Maybe at a six form level - I don't know. But certainly not at secondary.

You seem quite sure , do you work here @Smoothie23 ? I've literally seen the girls go in in their uniform so I know a few definitely do get through in secondary, not many your right -but its not a definitive 'no' either.

You seem quite clued up on the school re admissions so any feedback re the general ethos of the school at the moment from my original post questions ? Thank you

I know what were the acceptance patterns in Catholic Schools in the area. Yes, there is a criterion 7 which allows all faiths to attend the school but the school is hugely popular and even not all Catholic applicants get it. My friend is Orthodox living within the designated parishes. They didn't get a place. Even before the National Offer day when she called the school she heard that the chances are slim because even all Catholic applicants don't get the place.
There are Catholic people in many nations, many from India and Africa.
Workers also can represent any religion e.g. I know Indian lady ( non Catholic) who worked in IT in Catholic school.

There are undersubscribed Catholic schools more towards Isleworth, Chiswick if somebody is interested but that might change now as they are becoming co ed

Criterion 7 I agree not a chance to get in. Criterion 6 of other faiths is more successful at this school if they have it as their first choice.

Again- admissions Criterion aside if anyone can actually answer my questions in the OP from experience I'd be grateful.

P.s. I know catholics come in all shapes , sizes and colours thanks @Smoothie23 . I'm abit more worldly than that 😂

I find it strange that your orthodox friend didn't get in on criterion 5 though @Smoothie23 either she didn't have it as her first choice or she's further out in the catchment than the other criterion 6 families I know of.

I am derailing your thread from your actual question, but just checking you know the school can't prioritise those who put it first choice? Of course if you put another school first choice and they offer you a place, you won't also get one at Ursuline, but Ursuline can't penalise you for putting it second.

Very good school, without a doubt. Holy Cross superior in many respects in my opinion.

So you are suggesting that Ursuline is not oversubscribed by Catholics and they widely accept Orthodox and even other faiths ( what other faiths do you mean?)

@CaptainOhMyCaptain

Year 7 Sept 24 has Catholics on the waiting list.

Exactly. This is what I am also trying explain

I didn't mean to offend you but you mention that you see them as they go to school. And I thought that you base your assumption on the fact that there are kids of all ethnical background, skin pigments.
Of course they are, there are many Catholics in any country.

Surely you have not seen a girl in hijab and Catholic school uniform. Simply no practicing muslim would consider Catholic secondary school for their kid.

this is all a bit moot really. I’ve heard nothing but positive things about the Ursuline. I have heard that under the previous head there was a fair amount of academic pressure, but generally it’s a very well regarded school but it’s a comprehensive and thus will have a comprehensive intake. But there are so many opportunities for the children to do so many things there. So if you like it, apply. If you get in, great, if you don’t, you’ll get Ricards if you live close by. You can’t really compare either of them to the grammar schools in terms of academics.

@Womblewimble
If you are not a practising Catholic (that is, if there is no chance the priest will sign even one year of church attendance and no certificate of baptism), you have a very low chance of getting into this school in 2025 but of course you can try. In a few years, the birth rate will decline, and it may be easier. I am not saying this to upset you but to make you aware of the situation.

Also, bear in mind that this is a school with a heavy emphasis on Catholicism: there are days of retreats with priest lectures, two hours of religious education per week, one of which is solely dedicated to catechism, sometimes participation in masses with the holy communion, and most trips are to important Catholic locations such as Rome, monasteries, Fatima, Santiago dell Compostella pilgrimages.

Surely you have not seen a girl in hijab and Catholic school uniform. Simply no practicing muslim would consider Catholic secondary school for their kid.

Yes I have. And a Muslim yes I would.

Also, bear in mind that this is a school with a heavy emphasis on Catholicism: there are days of retreats with priest lectures, two hours of religious education per week, one of which is solely dedicated to catechism, sometimes participation in masses with the holy communion, and most trips are to important Catholic locations such as Rome, monasteries, Fatima, Santiago dell Compostella pilgrimages.

This is helpful to know thank you. Do you know how many days of retreats etc happen? The 2hrs of re is fine - sounds about in line with what other local schools would do.