St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, London

In its own words: "St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School is a four-form entry secondary grammar school for girls (with a mixed sixth form). It was founded in 1908 by the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, the school opened its doors on St Michael’s day."

From the headteacher's welcome: "St. Michael’s is a very special place; it is first and foremost a Catholic school; the ethos implanted here by the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus who founded this school. Today we are proud to be a Loreto school and are inspired to make this world a better place by the example of Mary Ward."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics, badminton, multi-sports, dance, drama and choir.

Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at St Michael's Catholic Grammar School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 78.1, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 57.9 in Barnet and 47 across England.

99% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 66% in Barnet and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 77.8.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.98: 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 78.1, against 78.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 0.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 21 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Geography and Combined Science.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School is a grammar school: places go to children who reach the required standard in its entrance test, and only then are the oversubscription criteria applied.

For September 2026 entry, 177 families put St Michael's Catholic Grammar School as their first choice and 288 named it as one of their preferences, for 127 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 58 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School admits pupils through an entrance test, usually called the 11-plus. Children have to be registered for it in advance, normally in the spring or summer of Year 5; the test itself is usually sat in September of Year 6, and results come out in October, before the 31 October deadline for naming secondary schools.

Passing the test makes a child eligible rather than guaranteeing a place: when more children pass than there are places, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School ranks them by the criteria in its admissions policy, which can include test score and distance. Check Barnet's admissions pages and the school's own policy for this year's registration deadline - a child who is not registered in time cannot sit the test.

Barnet has 3 state grammar schools in all, so a child who passes may have several selective schools to choose between.

The nearest other state secondary schools to St Michael's Catholic Grammar School are Wren Academy Finchley (0.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 65.1); Finchley Catholic High School (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 59.5); The Compton School (0.8 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 55.5); and Friern Barnet School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.5).

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Of the 128 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 97% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 1% to a further education college and 1% into work.

Of the 102 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 81% went on to university or other higher education and 11% into work. 70% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

9.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 87 pupils (9.6%) received SEN support and 4 (0.4%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

St Michael's Catholic Grammar School had 68 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Woodside Park, about 510 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tally Ho Corner, 270 metres away.

In 2024/25, St Michael's Catholic Grammar School issued 15 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to St Michael's Catholic Grammar School are Northside Primary School (0.1 miles), Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School (0.3 miles), Moss Hall Junior School (0.4 miles) and Moss Hall Infant School (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.