St Paul's Catholic School

St Paul's Catholic School has effectively maintained the high standards established during its previous inspections. The school fosters a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere where pupils demonstrate kindness and respect, living up to the ethos embodied in their motto. With a broad curriculum aimed at encouraging success for all pupils, including those with special educational needs, the school has successfully prepared its students for future challenges. Staff dedication and strong community bonds contribute to the overall positive environment within the school. While the overall delivery of the curriculum is effective, some inconsistencies were noted where teaching approaches could better adapt to individual student needs. Ensuring clarity in communicating ideas and continuously checking pupils' understanding during lessons will further enhance the educational experience, helping all students achieve their fullest potential. The school has a strong track record in personal development and preparation for future careers, indicating a proactive approach to student growth and engagement.

Strengths

• Pupils exhibit a strong sense of kindness and respect for others.
• A broad and aspirational curriculum is offered to all students.
• Staff have high expectations and are committed to pupil success.
• Pupils receive effective support to become confident and articulate individuals.
• Strong community bonds foster cooperation between families and the school.
• Personal development and careers guidance are exceptionally well structured.
• Strategic reading support helps pupils improve their literacy skills.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent delivery of the curriculum affects some pupils' understanding and achievement.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Paul's Catholic School attended 93.2% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 17.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 5.5% of pupils at St Paul's Catholic School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Paul's Catholic School had 14.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 12.9% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 15.1% of pupils at St Paul's Catholic School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 5.3% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

The school has a SEN unit with 25 pupils and resourced provision with 44 pupils.

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Paul's Catholic School received £9,970 and spent £9,881 for each of its 1,892 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £2,002,000 (£1,058 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Milton Keynes · Milton Keynes local authority: places and applications

What is St Paul's Catholic School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Paul's Catholic School is Good, from an inspection in June 2025.

When was St Paul's Catholic School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Paul's Catholic School was last inspected in June 2025.

How many pupils does St Paul's Catholic School have?

St Paul's Catholic School has 1,890 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Paul's Catholic School cover?

St Paul's Catholic School for pupils aged 11 to 19.

What are St Paul's Catholic School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 43.9, and 38% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is St Paul's Catholic School?

St Paul's Catholic School is at Phoenix Drive, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 5EN.