SchoolScoresThomas More Catholic School
Voluntary aided school · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Sixth form
Russell Hill Road, Purley, CR8 2XP
020 8668 6251 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 April 2019.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Sixth form | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Croydon comparisons use the 10 of its 24 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 14 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 35% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 79% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 2nd highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 40% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83% | 79% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 1st highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 78% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 89% | 72% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 12 parents who had raised a concern 10th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 8% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 42% | 66% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 10 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Croydon. Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67%said yes | 73% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 3%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Croydon figures pool parents at the Croydon schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
113 pupils in this year group.
38% — 4 points below the Croydon average, and 7 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 38% | 42% | 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. | 42.1 | 44.5 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.1 |
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.
106 pupils in this year group.
94% — about the same as the Croydon average, and 2 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 94% | 93% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 41% | 48% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 2% | 8% | 13% |
| Further education college | 47% | 34% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 2% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 88% | 94% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
A levels (16 to 18), 2023/24
24 A level students in this year group.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average A level grade | D- | C | C+ |
| A level exams graded A* or A | 0% | 14% | 25% |
| A level exams graded A* to B | 13% | 39% | 51% |
| 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. | 16.9 | 29.8 | 34.4 |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2023/24. 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.
37 students in this year group.
86% — 7 points above the Croydon average, and 6 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. | 86% | 79% | 80% |
| Apprenticeship | 3% | 3% | 7% |
| Work | 22% | 21% | 28% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2023/24 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.
45 students in this year group.
78% — 6 points above the Croydon average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Went on to a degree or other higher education | 78% | 72% | 66% |
| Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. | 16% | 18% | 24% |
Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2023/24 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 Croydon. 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 offered | 129 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 60 |
| Of those, offered a place | 60 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 346 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 2025: 0.4 · 2026: 0.5
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Croydon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 81% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 43.1% | 39.9%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 44% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 2.7% | 2.9%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 38% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 12.2% | 14.7%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 84% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 35.5% | 28.5%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Lower than 44% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 8.7% | 8.4%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Lower than 42% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 25.0% | 24.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Lower than 38% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 20.1 | 12.9 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Lower than 27% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 10.0% | 7.2% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.16% | 0.14% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 36% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 16.2 | 16.8 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 31% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.0 | 12.4 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Purley. Higher than 69% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0% | 21.7%* | 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
- Cumnor House School 0.6 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- The John Fisher School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 65% grade 5+ English and maths
- Harris Academy Purley 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wilson's School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2022) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- Wallington High School for Girls 1.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 100% grade 5+ English and maths
- Woodcote High School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Whitgift School 1.4 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 59% A*/A at A level
- Croydon Metropolitan College 1.8 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 3% A*/A at A level
- Riddlesdown Collegiate 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 55% grade 5+ English and maths
- Oaks Park High School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Thomas More Catholic School's Ofsted rating?
Thomas More Catholic School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 April 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Thomas More Catholic School do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 38% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 7 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Thomas More Catholic School?
67% of the 18 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Thomas More Catholic School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Thomas More Catholic School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 60 families put Thomas More Catholic School as their first choice for 129 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 60 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 101821.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25, A levels 2023/24, After sixth form 2023/24, Going on to university 2023/24.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.