St Bernard's Catholic High School
Rotherham, S65 3BE · Rotherham · secondary school
Check the area around this school
2nd of 16 secondary schools in Rotherham 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 — 7.7/10 against 914 of them, against 6.9/10 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 | 50.6 · 64 | 30% | 1.91 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.32 · 74 | 25% | 1.85 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 50.3 · 71 | 10% | 0.71 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Bernard's Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted (inspected 2024-04). In 2024/25, 42.9% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 48.9, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.32 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally starting from the same place. Its position is much the same whether compared with all schools or only those whose pupils have similar backgrounds (6.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 6.1 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join anime, film, and mindfulness clubs, or participate in cheerleading, HIIT fitness, and Irish dancing. The school also organises religious retreats and provides an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 818 pupils against a stated capacity of 730. 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 manage class sizes when operating 88 pupils over its designated capacity? What specific support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 scores? How are the religious retreats integrated into the wider curriculum?
What Ofsted said about St Bernard's Catholic High School
Overview
St Bernard’s Catholic High School is judged ‘Good’ overall, with ‘Outstanding’ ratings for behaviour, personal development, and leadership. The report describes a school with an “exceptionally strong sense of community” where pupils are “happy and feel safe.” Leaders have implemented “swift and effective action” to improve curriculum delivery, resulting in a nurturing environment that promotes pupils’ talents and prepares them for future success.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate “exceptionally strong relationships” with staff, fostering a culture of “mutual respect” where bullying is not tolerated.
- The personal development curriculum is highly effective, helping pupils leave as “compassionate, well-rounded and mature young adults.”
- Staff receive “highly effective and personalised professional development,” including a coaching programme that drives continuous improvement.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) is swift and detailed, enabling them to “achieve highly.”
- Attendance is “excellent,” supported by precise monitoring and a reward system that pupils appreciate.
Areas to improve
- The school must continue to refine curriculum design and implementation in subjects where it is “not as refined... as the strongest examples,” to reduce variation in pupil learning.
- Leaders are addressing occasional gaps in younger pupils’ knowledge and inconsistent teaching approaches in a “small number of lessons” through additional staff training.
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 48.3 |
| 2024/25 | 48.9 |
| 2025/26 | 50.3 |
| 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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