Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School
Wednesbury, WS10 9QS · Sandwell · secondary school
Check the area around this school
14th of 20 secondary schools in Sandwell we can score, 22 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 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.8/10 against 474 of them, against 2.2/10 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 | 27.1 · 10 | 30% | 0.31 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.2 · 35 | 25% | 0.87 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.5 · 26 | 10% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School overview
How it's doing
The school was rated Good by Ofsted in May 2024. In 2024/25, 35.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 41.4, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.2 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.0 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Movie Nights, Smile For Joel, Make A Wish Charity Fundraising Activities, Reading Buddies, and Student Leadership training. They play in Football Tournaments and visit Blackwell, Krakow, Auschwitz, Rome, New Cross Hospital, and Stone for computing.
Getting in
The published school roll is 807 pupils against a stated capacity of 900. 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 close the gap between their Progress 8 score and the national benchmark? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Attainment 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School
Overview
Stuart Bathurst Catholic High School has undergone "significant improvement" since becoming an academy, with leaders demonstrating a "shared determination" to continue this progress. The curriculum is now described as "broad and ambitious," helping pupils to "know and remember more," while staff feel valued and supported by the trust.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "carefully sequenced" to help pupils build learning over time, with effective use of common approaches like modelling answers.
- There is "expert support" for weaker readers, enabling them to make "excellent progress" in becoming stronger readers.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) has improved significantly, with a "strong process" for identification and staff training ensuring these pupils are "achieving well."
- Pupils value the "high-quality careers guidance" and opportunities to contribute to the community through roles such as prefects and charity fundraising.
- Staff workload is considered in changes, and the majority of parents believe the school is "doing a good job."
Areas to improve
- Teachers must check more carefully that all pupils have understood their learning to prevent "misconceptions" and "gaps in pupils’ knowledge" from remaining unnoticed.
- Sixth-form provision needs to better equip students for "independent thinking and study" required for higher education, rather than replicating earlier key stages.
- The school must address "too high" absence levels and ensure effective reporting processes for pupils who do not feel fully respected due to inappropriate comments from peers.
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 | 43.6 |
| 2024/25 | 41.4 |
| 2025/26 | 41.5 |
| 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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