Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ, London

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils know the importance of coming to school every day."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have built an inclusive community, where pupils feel a real sense of belonging."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils experience a well-constructed programme of lessons, assemblies and workshops that cover pupils' personal, social and health education."

Post 16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a thoughtful and ambitious post-16 curriculum."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not develop their knowledge and skills as effectively as they could."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teaching does not consistently check pupils' understanding effectively."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Some of leaders' actions to improve the school are in the early stages and have not had the required impact."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders must ensure that pupils have the appropriate support to secure strong foundational knowledge and skills, particularly in reading, so that all pupils can access the curriculum successfully"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' learning is carefully checked and teaching adapted accordingly to address misconceptions and/or to move pupils on to more challenging content"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities consistently have the adaptations and reasonable adjustments they need in lessons"; "Leaders should take the appropriate actions to drive improvement for pupils' attainment in national examinations"; "Leaders and governors should ensure that they strategically implement and quality assure new processes and systems in place so that they have the required impact".

In its own words: "Our school began serving the local Catholic community in 1830 under the direction of Marie Madeleine D'Houet, founder of the religious order, the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ). The sisters are still involved in our school today, serving on our Governing Body and contributing to the spiritual life of the school."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Maria Fidelis Sixth Form is a small and friendly sixth form, located in the heart of London. Easily accessible by rail, underground and bus, it is the perfect location for many of our students. We are a very academic Sixth Form with a focus on traditional subjects."

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 3 November 2026, an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 and an open evening on Wednesday 18 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.1 in Camden and 47 across England.

46% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Camden and 47% in England.

That is up from 41.9 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.58: pupils made well below 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 43.6, against 49.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 6.2 points.

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

For September 2026 entry, 82 families put Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ as their first choice and 280 named it as one of their preferences, for 135 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 Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ are Regent High School (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.3); Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55); The St Marylebone CofE School (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 62.8); and The Camden School for Girls (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 65.1).

Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

23 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ (as of April 2026): 65% would recommend the school, 65% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that pupils behave well (74%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

Of the 131 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 45% to a further education college and 1% into work.

Of the 59 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 68% went on to university or other higher education and 15% into work. 14% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

60.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 43.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (33%), White British (17%) and Mixed (15%).

Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ had 68 teachers in 2026, one for every 12 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest Underground station is Euston Underground Station, about 170 metres away (roughly a 2-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Euston Station / Eversholt Street, 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 2703 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Camden (1254), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ issued 121 suspensions, 14.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 3 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Maria Fidelis Catholic School FCJ are St Mary and St Pancras Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles), Edith Neville Primary School (0.2 miles), Argyle Primary School (0.4 miles) and Netley Primary School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.