Thomas More Catholic School
Purley, CR8 2XP · Croydon · secondary school
Check the area around this school
17th of 23 secondary schools in Croydon 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 — 6.5/10 against 482 of them, against 4.3/10 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 | 42.5 · 44 | 30% | 1.30 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.13 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.0 · 50 | 10% | 0.50 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Thomas More Catholic School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, inspected in 2024-11. In 2024/25, 38.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 42.1, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally similar peers. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.0 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.6 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 599 pupils against a stated capacity of 850. 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 Attainment 8 score and the national median? What specific strategies are used to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Thomas More Catholic School
Overview
Thomas More Catholic School has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at its previous inspection. The report describes a school where pupils are courteous, respectful, and feel safe, supported by trusting professional relationships with staff. Leaders have made realistic evaluations of the school’s work and addressed areas for improvement effectively.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "well ordered" and enables pupils to "build on prior learning securely," including cross-curricular links such as using history to enhance English writing.
- Teachers present information clearly and provide "helpful feedback," enabling pupils to gain confidence and accuracy in their work.
- Pupils are taught about "respect and tolerance," resulting in rare bullying and a culture where they "treat one another with kindness and respect."
- Leaders provide an "ambitious and well-structured programme of support" for pupils at earlier stages of reading, helping them to catch up.
- The school encourages wider interests through clubs and international trips, such as visits to Paris and Madrid for language students.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure planned support for pupils with SEND is consistently delivered in lessons and systematically check how well this support helps them learn.
- Teachers need to check pupils’ understanding systematically to identify and address misconceptions swiftly, preventing gaps in knowledge that hinder future learning.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 42.5 |
| 2024/25 | 42.1 |
| 2025/26 | 46.0 |
| 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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