Bishop Douglass School Finchley, London

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is our pleasure to introduce you to Bishop Douglass, the leading co-educational 11-18 Catholic school in London. We are a comprehensive school located in East Finchley, focused on achieving the very best for our young people whatever their academic starting point. We offer a flourishing, vibrant and enriching environment where learning never stops."

In 2026, pupils at Bishop Douglass School Finchley averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 57.9 in Barnet and 47 across England.

40% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Barnet and 47% in England.

That is down from 52.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.43: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40, against 52.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 12.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and History.

For September 2026 entry, 35 families put Bishop Douglass School Finchley as their first choice and 327 named it as one of their preferences, for 125 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Bishop Douglass School Finchley are The Archer Academy (0.4 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.6); Christ's College Finchley (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 56.4); The Henrietta Barnett School (1 mile, Good, selective, Attainment 8 87.1); and Fortismere School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.9).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Bishop Douglass School Finchley.

Bishop Douglass School Finchley is one of 3 schools run by The Cardinal Hume Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.3 in 2024/25.

Of the 141 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 93% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 16% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 119 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 11% into work. 9% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

53.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (30%), other ethnic groups (19%) and Mixed (16%).

In 2026, 118 pupils (12.2%) received SEN support and 18 (1.9%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest Underground station is East Finchley Underground Station, about 1190 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ossulton Way, 240 metres away.

In 2024/25, Bishop Douglass School Finchley issued 21 suspensions, 2.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Bishop Douglass School Finchley are St Theresa's Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles), Tudor Primary School (0.4 miles), Martin Primary School (0.4 miles) and Akiva School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.