The Holy Cross School
New Malden, KT3 5AR · Kingston upon Thames · secondary school
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6th of 11 secondary schools in Kingston upon Thames we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 9.1/10 against 639 of them, against 9.4/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 34% | 1.79 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 72.8 · 92 | 30% | 2.79 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.95 · 97 | 25% | 2.45 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 58.4 · 90 | 10% | 0.91 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Holy Cross School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected in 2022. In 2024/25, 74.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 59.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.95 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (9.3 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, attend visiting artist workshops and RA life drawing experiences, and go on trips to galleries.
Getting in
The published school roll is 994 pupils against a stated capacity of 827. 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 significantly above its designated capacity? What specific support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are places allocated for the next academic year given the current over-capacity status?
What Ofsted said about The Holy Cross School
Overview
The report describes The Holy Cross School as a "welcoming school" where pupils experience a strong "sense of family" and are "well cared for and safe." Leaders have established a "broad and ambitious curriculum" with high expectations, resulting in pupils who are polite, hard-working, and achieve highly across most subjects.
Strengths
- Pupils demonstrate "exemplary" attitudes to learning, with behaviour described as "calm" and "free from disruption."
- Teachers possess "strong subject knowledge" and effectively help pupils "embed essential knowledge in their long-term memory" through clear sequencing and routine checks.
- The school offers a wide range of subjects, including a joint sixth form that provides "a breadth of choices and subject combinations."
- Leaders identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "effectively," and weaker readers "catch up quickly" through structured support.
- Staff are "proud and happy to work here," valuing the "supportive and committed leadership team" and training opportunities.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must ensure the curriculum provides sufficient opportunities for pupils in Years 7 to 9 to learn all aspects of design and technology, and more options in Years 10 and beyond.
- Leaders should ensure staff consistently use personalised strategies to support pupils with SEND across the curriculum, as current practice is inconsistent.
- Leaders should ensure all pupils feel reassured by procedures for dealing with incidents, including bullying and friendship issues, as some pupils feel these are not resolved consistently well.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff who are "vigilant about pupils’ safety" and well trained to support emotional and mental health.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 58.6 |
| 2024/25 | 59.2 |
| 2025/26 | 58.4 |
| 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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