Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Sixth form

Part of ST GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

Old Fallings Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 8BL

01902 558250 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 13 March 2018; confirmed 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths24%England 45% · 2024/25
19th highest of 20 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 8% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils1,222Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 889 in 2019, 1,048 in 2021, 1,089 in 2022, 1,133 in 2023, 1,179 in 2024, 1,191 in 2025, 1,222 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.9176 for 206 places, September 2026
9th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 32% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 13 March 2018.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

209 pupils in this year group.

24% — 15 points below the Wolverhampton average, and 21 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 24% 40% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 40.4 44.5 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.2 3.7 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 13%This school 2023/24: 23%This school 2024/25: 24% This school England 45% 2022/23 13% 2023/24 23% 2024/25 24%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

203 pupils in this year group.

83% — 7 points below the Wolverhampton average, and 9 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 90% 92%
School sixth form 41% 45% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 1% 13%
Further education college 36% 38% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 2% 3%
Work 1% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%83%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

22 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Average A level grade C- C B-
A level exams graded A* or A 5% 21% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 29% 44% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 27.9 31.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 30This school 2023/24: 24.5This school 2024/25: 27.9 This school England 35 2022/23 30 2023/24 24.5 2024/25 27.9

A level subjects, 2024/25

7 subjects, 38 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
English Literature 9 0% 0% 23%
Biology 8 0% 0% 27%
Psychology 6 0% 0% 19%
Religious Studies 6 0% 0% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Geography, Chinese, Mathematics.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

38 students in this year group.

71% — 4 points below the Wolverhampton average, and 8 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 71% 75% 79%
Apprenticeship 5% 7% 7%
Work 13% 18% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
86%71%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

48 students in this year group.

77% — 12 points above the Wolverhampton average, and 17 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 77% 65% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 8% 17% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
72%77%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Wolverhampton. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered206
Families who put it first176
Of those, offered a place169 (96%)
Families who listed it at all409

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 0.9

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Wolverhampton

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWolverhamptonEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
6th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 94% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
55.1% 46.2%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
15th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 14% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
1.4% 2.2%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
9th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 68% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
16.2% 15.9%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
15th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 70% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
22.2% 31.8%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
8th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Lower than 81% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
6.5% 7.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
7th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Lower than 79% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
17.1% 20.5%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
13th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Lower than 68% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.8 11.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
13th lowest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Lower than 58% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
5.8% 6.0% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded3 pupils 0.25% 0.27% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
13th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.0 15.3 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 61% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.3 10.9 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
18th highest of 23 state secondary schools in Wolverhampton.
Higher than 30% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
10.2% 12.5%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?

Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 13 March 2018. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 24% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 21 points below the England average of 45%.

Is Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 176 families put Our Lady and St Chad Catholic Academy as their first choice for 206 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 169 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.