La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School, London
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School is a secondary school for girls aged 11 to 18 in London. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2010. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in December 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 84th-highest of the 266 schools in London with published results, and 537th of 3,298 across England. It was 50% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2010)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
- Progress (2024)
- Above average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 5 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Camden (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School in detail
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School in its own words
In its own words: "At La Sainte Union Catholic School, our mission is to create a flourishing community inspired by the life and teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Rooted in Christian principles, we are dedicated to fostering a dynamic and compassionate environment that promotes the flourishing of all its members."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to La Sainte Union, where we are proud to offer an exceptional Catholic education for young women aged 11-18, alongside a mixed sixth form that is part of the renowned LaSWAP Consortium."
The school runs after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 54.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.1 in Camden and 47 across England.
57% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Camden and 47% in England.
That is up from 48.5 in 2025.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.18: 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 55.9, against 52.8 for other pupils at the school.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 20 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Business Studies.
Getting a place at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
For September 2026 entry, 28 families put La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School as their first choice and 151 named it as one of their preferences, for 62 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School are LaSWAP Sixth Form (under 0.1 miles); Parliament Hill School (0.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 58.6); William Ellis School (0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.8); and Acland Burghley School (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 55.2).
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
LaSWAP Sixth FormParliament Hill SchoolWilliam Ellis SchoolAcland Burghley School
What parents say
76 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 86% say their child is happy there and 55% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (55%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 146 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 21% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.
Of the 130 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 59% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 20% into work. 22% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Who goes there
34.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 44% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (31%), White British (21%) and Mixed (14%).
In 2026, 40 pupils (7.3%) received SEN support and 6 (1.1%) 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.
Staffing
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School had 52 teachers in 2026, one for every 11 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Gospel Oak Rail Station, about 530 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is William Ellis School, 50 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School issued 27 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School are Brookfield Primary School (0.3 miles), Gospel Oak Primary School (0.4 miles), Hargrave Park School (0.5 miles) and Eleanor Palmer Primary School (0.6 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
Brookfield Primary SchoolGospel Oak Primary SchoolHargrave Park SchoolEleanor Palmer Primary School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2010, 15 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Sixth Form
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
La Sainte Union provides a broad, well-sequenced curriculum where pupils build deep understanding over time. The school excels at supporting all learners, particularly those with special educational needs, through targeted interventions and 'key workers'. Pupils develop as rounded individuals through a strong personal development programme, wide range of clubs and leadership roles, and comprehensive career preparation.
Key Strengths
- Well-designed broad curriculum including Latin and drama, with clear sequencing so pupils build understanding over time
- Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, including targeted reading programmes
- Strong personal development programme covering British values, respect for difference, careers guidance and work experience
- Wide range of extra-curricular clubs and leadership opportunities such as school council and reading mentors
- Pupils behave well in lessons and achieve positive outcomes, with low rates of bullying
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching adaptations are not consistently effective - staff need better training to support pupils to develop independence and understanding across subjects
- Behaviour management systems are newly introduced and not consistently applied during social times and informal settings
- Lack of sufficient oversight of whether newer policies are having the intended impact on disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
- School currently lacks a staff member with SEND qualifications, though plans are in place to address this
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective. Pupils are kept safe and taught how to stay safe, with bullying being rare and typically dealt with effectively.
Extracurricular Activities
Football, drama, philosophy clubs, school council, reading mentors, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School is a girls' secondary school with a mixed sixth form in London, rated Good across all key areas of inspection. The school's values of service, dignity, respect, academia, cooperation and excellence are embedded in school life, with pupils demonstrating kindness and ambition for their futures.
At a Glance
34.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
76 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has improved from 0.06 to 0.18 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has improved from 49.6 to 54.4 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has improved from 49% to 57% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 54.4 | 57.1% |
| Disadvantaged(38) | - | 55.9 | 55.3% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(32) | - | 52.8 | 59.4% |
| Girls(70) | - | 54.4 | 57.1% |
Show more breakdowns (2)
| Known or believed to be other than English(47) | - | 57.0 | 61.7% |
| Non mobile(68) | - | 55.2 | 58.8% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 146 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
2
Permanent exclusions
0.34%
Exclusion rate
27
Suspensions
4.61%
Suspension rate
22 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 586 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Latest from La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Bright Women, Bold Futures: La Sainte Union Students Celebrate Excellent GCSE Success
20 Aug 2026
La Sainte Union students celebrate outstanding A Level and Vocational results
17 Aug 2026
Celebrating LaSWAP Year 13 exam results
14 Aug 2026
Brilliant Club graduates
24 Jun 2026
LSU students gain real world skills at careers event
1 Jun 2026
Celebrating Year 11 leavers
22 May 2026
From La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School is in Camden; for families living there:
Apply to Camden for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 65
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 63 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot.
11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Camden is 130 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Will you get a place at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Camden, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Camden got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
50%
Available places
590 pupils
1,188 places
598 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Camden council
Places available
1,577
Applications
1,261
Got 1st preference
73.7%
Got preferred school
93.3%
All secondary applications across Camden council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
40
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
8.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
550
Total Pupils
48
Boys
502
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
52
Teachers
10.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£62,180
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£9,253
Per pupil
£3472k
Total funding
£164k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.7%
Overall absence
24.9%
Persistent absence
377
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School
What are GCSE results like at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
In the 2026 results, pupils at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School achieved an Attainment 8 score of 54.4. 57% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School's Ofsted rating?
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in December 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2010, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
No fixed boundary. When La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School is oversubscribed, Camden allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 50% of its 1188 places.
How big are the classes at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
Classes at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School average 18.2 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School has around 550 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
7.7% of sessions were missed at La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School in 2024/25. 24.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
Apply through Camden's coordinated admissions process, naming La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 65 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 63 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot. 11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Camden is 130 (the median across 102 schools, same distance and years).
Where is La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School?
La Sainte Union Catholic Secondary School is at Highgate Road, London, NW5 1RP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)