St James' Catholic High School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St James' Catholic High School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils develop their knowledge and understanding well."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils' levels of attendance are improving."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the quality of the curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders demonstrate a clear commitment to ensuring that all pupils are known and cared for."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a keen understanding of the context of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented a thoughtful personal development programme that benefits all pupils, including those who are disadvantaged."

Post-16 provision - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a thoughtful post-16 programme that has expanded in breadth to include a thorough vocational offer to suit the interests of students."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should strengthen teachers' approaches to checking pupils' understanding more precisely, so that those who are able can move on to more ambitious subject content"; "Leaders should continue to evaluate the impact of their offer for personal development, so that pupils fully embrace the school's values and develop greater responsibility, resilience and confidence".

From the headteacher's welcome: "As Headteacher it is my great privilege to be leading a school where the holistic development of our pupils, as set out in our mission statement, is our core purpose."

In 2026, pupils at St James' Catholic High School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 57.9 in Barnet and 47 across England.

53% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Barnet and 47% in England.

That is down from 51.4 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.32: 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 41.7, against 53.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 135 families put St James' Catholic High School as their first choice and 456 named it as one of their preferences, for 210 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 St James' Catholic High School are Saracens High School (0.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.1); Hasmonean High School for Girls (0.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 60.6); Copthall School (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47); and St Mary's and St John's CofE School (0.9 miles, Attainment 8 54.5).

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

Of the 227 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 94% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 22% to a further education college and 2% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 83 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 7% to apprenticeships and 13% into work. 20% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

64.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (22%), White British (14%) and Asian (10%).

In 2026, 130 pupils (10.5%) received SEN support and 38 (3.1%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest Underground station is Colindale Underground Station, about 860 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Saracens High School / South Mead, 210 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St James' Catholic High School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, St James' Catholic High School issued 108 suspensions, 8.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to St James' Catholic High School are Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles), The Orion Primary School (0.6 miles), Goldbeaters Primary School (0.7 miles) and Woodcroft Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.