Holy Family Catholic School
London, E17 3EA · Waltham Forest · secondary school
Check the area around this school
8th of 17 secondary schools in Waltham Forest we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.1/10 against 678 of them, against 5.3/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 46.9 · 55 | 30% | 1.66 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.04 · 47 | 25% | 1.18 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 48.1 · 61 | 10% | 0.61 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holy Family Catholic School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 43.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.5, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.04 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did slightly worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join a roller skating club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,175 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,240. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to improve their Progress 8 scores? What other extracurricular opportunities are available alongside the roller skating club? How does the school manage class sizes given the current roll?
What Ofsted said about Holy Family Catholic School
Overview
Holy Family Catholic School is described as a welcoming community where pupils enjoy strong friendships and feel safe. Leaders maintain high expectations for attendance and behaviour, fostering a positive environment where staff support pupils to succeed. The curriculum is broad and well-sequenced, with particular emphasis on reading and personal development.
Strengths
- Pupils benefit from a "broad curriculum" where subject leaders ensure knowledge builds over time, such as revisiting geography concepts across year groups.
- Leaders have successfully increased the number of pupils choosing modern foreign languages and prioritised reading through targeted support and sixth-form "buddy" schemes.
- Personal development is supported effectively, with a well-sequenced PSHE curriculum and opportunities for spiritual reflection and community service.
- Staff are "well looked after" by considerate leaders, and the governing body provides effective challenge and support.
- Sixth-form students receive robust support for university and apprenticeship applications, acting as role models for younger pupils.
Areas to improve
- In Years 7 to 9, teaching does not routinely check pupils' understanding, leading to unaddressed misconceptions; leaders must ensure checking approaches are used "routinely and purposefully".
- Leaders do not oversee wider development opportunities sharply enough, resulting in "variable" take-up; they must rigorously check the personal development offer to ensure more pupils engage.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff demonstrating a clear understanding of their responsibilities and a "consistent culture of vigilance" across both school sites.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.6 |
| 2024/25 | 45.5 |
| 2025/26 | 48.1 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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