Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
Rickmansworth, WD3 1HG · Hertfordshire · secondary school
Check the area around this school
36th of 78 secondary schools in Hertfordshire we can score, 82 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to the 520 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 3.3/10 among them, against 7.2/10 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 | 52.7 · 68 | 30% | 2.05 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.34 · 75 | 25% | 1.88 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.6 · 72 | 10% | 0.72 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 56.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 50.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.34 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.0 out of 10 among them, against 7.5 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, an orchestra, or a choir. Sports include athletics, dance, football, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rounders, and rhythmic gymnastics. The school organises expeditions to Italy and provides an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,198 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,243. 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 relative to similar-intake schools? What specific support is available for students aiming for higher grades in English and maths? How does the after-school club integrate with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme?
What Ofsted said about Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School
Overview
Saint Joan of Arc Catholic School continues to be a good school, where pupils feel "happy, safe and valued" within its Catholic identity. The inspection confirms that the school maintains high expectations for learning and behaviour, with pupils typically remembering and recalling knowledge effectively.
Strengths
- Pupils receive "high-quality guidance and care," helping them become better citizens and develop personal well-being.
- The curriculum is "well-thought-through," ensuring pupils have the prior understanding needed to approach new topics with confidence.
- Teachers explain information "carefully and patiently" and use skilful questioning to address gaps in knowledge, ensuring pupils rarely get left behind.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are "very well supported" to learn the same curriculum as their peers.
- There is a "strong culture of pupils reading for pleasure," with pupils loving opportunities to read with tutors.
Areas to improve
- Teachers do not always receive necessary subject-specific training, hindering their ability to help pupils deepen their understanding and achieve as well as they could.
- Subject departments do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to read within curriculum subjects, limiting the development of subject-specific vocabulary.
- The school does not monitor attendance at extra-curricular clubs in enough detail, which hinders efforts to increase participation among disadvantaged pupils.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 51.9 |
| 2024/25 | 50.6 |
| 2025/26 | 50.6 |
| 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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