The St Thomas the Apostle College
London, SE15 2EB · Southwark · secondary school
Check the area around this school
1st of 19 secondary schools in Southwark we can score, 20 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 9.9/10 against 412 of them, against 9.5/10 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 | 94 | 35% | 3.29 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 73.9 · 92 | 30% | 2.77 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 1.45 · 100 | 25% | 2.49 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 61.8 · 93 | 10% | 0.93 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The St Thomas the Apostle College overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 72.0% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 61.7, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +1.45 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (10.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 9.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in 2024-12.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,140 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,000. 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 structures are in place for pupils to maintain the high Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about The St Thomas the Apostle College
Overview
The St Thomas the Apostle College is described as an "inspiring, exciting, and highly successful school" where pupils enjoy a supportive environment. The inspection confirms the school has taken effective action to maintain the high standards identified in its previous outstanding judgement, with outcomes among the best in the country.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "ambitious and inclusive," with carefully designed content that helps pupils build knowledge and achieve "exceptional" progress, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs.
- Teachers possess strong subject knowledge and use "routinised, structured" methods to develop long-term memory, rigorously checking understanding and addressing gaps.
- Behaviour is "excellent," underpinned by high expectations pupils call ‘100% STAC’, with bullying reported as non-existent and sixth-form mentors supporting younger students.
- The school is "highly effective in developing literacy and oracy," providing bespoke support for struggling readers and promoting handwriting.
- Leadership is "exceptional," fostering a positive staff culture and preparing pupils well for future education, employment, or training through wide-ranging careers education.
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 60.5 |
| 2024/25 | 61.7 |
| 2025/26 | 61.8 |
| 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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