Finchley Catholic High School, London

From the headteacher's welcome: "I hope that it gives existing and prospective parents/carers and staff, as well as students past and present, an opportunity to gain a real sense of our unique community and the excellent education we provide."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include drama, orchestra and chess.

Coming up: an open evening on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Finchley Catholic High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 59.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 57.9 in Barnet and 47 across England.

70% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Barnet and 47% in England.

That is down from 62.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.94: pupils made well 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 51.8, against 61.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 9.4 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 169 families put Finchley Catholic High School as their first choice and 439 named it as one of their preferences, for 180 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Finchley Catholic High School are St Michael's Catholic Grammar School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 78.1); Wren Academy Finchley (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 65.1); The Compton School (1.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.5); and St Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox School (1.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.5).

Finchley Catholic High School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 177 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 95% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 20% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 150 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 64% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 17% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

12.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 26.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (39%), Mixed (11%) and Black (10%).

In 2026, 95 pupils (8.1%) received SEN support and 38 (3.2%) 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 tram or metro stop is Woodside Park, about 620 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Derwent Crescent, 340 metres away.

In 2024/25, Finchley Catholic High School issued 71 suspensions, 6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Finchley Catholic High School are St John's CofE Primary and Nursery School (0.3 miles), Alma Primary (0.4 miles), Northside Primary School (0.5 miles) and Queenswell Infant & Nursery School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.