St Francis of Assisi Catholic College
Walsall, WS9 0RN · Walsall · secondary school
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3rd of 19 secondary schools in Walsall 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 — 8.0/10 against 879 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 | 84 | 35% | 2.96 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 55.6 · 74 | 30% | 2.23 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.1 · 57 | 25% | 1.43 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 53.0 · 80 | 10% | 0.80 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Francis of Assisi Catholic College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 58.7% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.1 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (8.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.2 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted inspected the school in March 2026 under the new report-card framework, which grades each area separately and gives no overall grade.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join Reading, Drama, Music, History, and Coding Clubs, or the Chaplaincy Team and Duke of Edinburgh. Sports include football, netball, basketball, rugby, volleyball, table tennis, cross country, and gymnastics. An after-school club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,109 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,100. 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
What specific support is available for pupils aiming to raise their Progress 8 score? How are the various club and sport options scheduled to avoid
What Ofsted said about St Francis of Assisi Catholic College
Overview
The report describes St Francis of Assisi Catholic College as a "special place" where "pupils thrive" within a culture of "love and warmth." Leaders have established a powerful vision promoting faith, culture, and learning, resulting in high achievement and exemplary behaviour across the school community.
Strengths
- Pupils, including disadvantaged learners and those with special educational needs, "achieve very well" with attainment "above national averages."
- There is an "impressive culture of high attendance" and "exemplary" behaviour, with bullying being rare and addressed "promptly and robustly."
- The curriculum is "challenging and engaging," with knowledge ordered sensibly to help pupils develop a "keen understanding" of concepts.
- Staff are "very well supported" through effective coaching, and leaders "meticulously monitor" impact to drive excellence.
- Inclusion is strong, with "high quality" additional support and in-house counselling improving pupils’ wellbeing.
Areas to improve
- Teachers need "necessary subject knowledge, and sufficient time" to deliver the wider personal development curriculum effectively, enabling deeper understanding of key concepts.
- The range of extra-curricular opportunities is "not always well aligned with pupils’ goals and aspirations," limiting their benefit.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an "open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility" and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 50.4 |
| 2024/25 | 53.2 |
| 2025/26 | 53.0 |
| 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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