St Joseph's Catholic High School

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

Part of ST THOMAS CATHOLIC ACADEMIES TRUST

Shaggy Calf Lane, Slough, SL2 5HW

01753 524713 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 6 May 2026
Grade 5 or above in English and maths43%England 45% · 2024/25
9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 49% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils988Room for 800 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 943 in 2019, 998 in 2021, 984 in 2022, 940 in 2023, 958 in 2024, 992 in 2025, 988 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.2183 for 158 places, September 2026
6th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 78% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 25 June 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Post-16 provisionSixth form or other study after 16. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

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

143 pupils in this year group.

43% — 14 points below the Slough average, and 2 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 43% 58% 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. 50.1 53.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 4.5 4.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 49%This school 2023/24: 49%This school 2024/25: 43% This school England 45% 2022/23 49% 2023/24 49% 2024/25 43%

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.

162 pupils in this year group.

94% — 2 points above the Slough average, and 2 points above the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 59%26%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 94% 92% 92%
School sixth form 59% 57% 34%
Sixth form college 7% 2% 13%
Further education college 26% 29% 37%
Apprenticeship 1% 1% 3%
Work 1% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
98%94%

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

87 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Average A level grade C- C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 11% 32% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 26% 56% 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. 27.8 34.5 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: 25.8This school 2023/24: 29.8This school 2024/25: 27.8 This school England 35 2022/23 25.8 2023/24 29.8 2024/25 27.8

A level subjects, 2024/25

22 subjects, 221 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 28 0% 0% 19%
Business Studies:Single 22 0% 0% 16%
Mathematics 21 5% 19% 40%
Sociology 20 0% 0% 20%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 15 0% 0% 14%
Chemistry 13 8% 23% 30%
Economics 13 0% 0% 26%
Law 13 0% 0% 17%
Biology 12 8% 17% 27%
Geography 11 0% 18% 23%
Physics 11 0% 0% 31%
English Literature 7 0% 0% 23%
Religious Studies 6 0% 0% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Computer Studies / Computing, Polish, Punjabi, Art and Design, Design and Technology (Product Design), History, English Language, French, Italian.

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.

89 students in this year group.

91% — 9 points above the Slough average, and 12 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 91% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 2% 5% 7%
Work 19% 26% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
86%91%

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.

97 students in this year group.

65% — 7 points below the Slough average, and 5 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 65% 72% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 6% 22% 19%

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

2023/242024/25
78%65%

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 Slough. 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 about 1 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered158
Families who put it first183
Of those, offered a place132 (72%)
Families who listed it at all433

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.2

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 Slough

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSloughEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 10% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
12.2% 22.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
2nd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.3% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
5th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 31% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
11.3% 9.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
12th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
32.5% 43.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
4.8% 7.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
1st lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 95% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
10.5% 20.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
12th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 56% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
12.4 11.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
13th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 36% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
8.6% 5.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.20% 0.16% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
13th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 19% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
15.2 16.8 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
11th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 40% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.4 12.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 78% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
19.4% 20.3%* 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 St Joseph's Catholic High School's Ofsted rating?

St Joseph's Catholic High School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did St Joseph's Catholic High School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 43% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 2 points below the England average of 45%.

Is St Joseph's Catholic High School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 183 families put St Joseph's Catholic High School as their first choice for 158 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 132 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.