The Palmer Catholic Academy
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Aldborough Road South Seven Kings Ilford Essex IG3 8EU |
| Phone | 02085903808 |
| Reference Number | 137088 |
The Palmer Catholic Academy is performing at a strong standard, with pupils achieving well across the curriculum. By Year 11, their outcomes in English and mathematics are aligned with national averages, and disadvantaged pupils have shown notable achievements, often surpassing their peers nationally. The school fosters a welcoming environment where pupils feel safe and respected, supported by effective safeguarding measures. However, there are areas identified for further development, particularly in the delivery of phonics and the consistency of teaching, especially for pupils needing extra support.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1155 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 57.14%
Girls: 42.86% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 26.8% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 38.3% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 23.1 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 106 | 86 | 192 |
| 8 | 120 | 65 | 185 |
| 9 | 114 | 77 | 191 |
| 10 | 108 | 81 | 189 |
| 11 | 107 | 85 | 192 |
| 12 | 44 | 56 | 100 |
| 13 | 61 | 45 | 106 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| African | 19% |
| Indian | 16% |
| Pakistani | 12.7% |
| White, Other | 8.6% |
| Asian, Other | 8.1% |
| Caribbean | 4.2% |
| White, British | 3.8% |
| Mixed, Other | 2.7% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 2.3% |
| Unclassified | 1.6% |
| White & Asian | 1.5% |
| White & Black (African) | 1.5% |
| Irish | 0.4% |
| Chinese | 0.1% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Needs attention |
| > Leadership & Governance | Expected standard |
| > Personal Development & Wellbeing | Needs attention |
| > Achievement | Expected standard |
| > Attendance & Behaviour | Expected standard |
| > Curriculum & Teaching | Needs attention |
| > Inclusion | Expected standard |
| > Post-16 Provision | Needs attention |
| Last Report Date | 03 Feb 2026 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2026 | School inspection |
| 25 Jan 2022 | School inspection |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Short inspection |
| 09 Oct 2012 | Full inspection |
| 14 Feb 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| Previously as Canon Palmer Catholic School | |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Interim assessment |
| 25 Feb 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 25 Feb 2009 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 16 May 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 16 May 2007 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Dec 2001 | Full inspection |
| 03 Dec 2001 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils achieve well across the curriculum.
- High attendance rates significantly above national averages.
- Strong safeguarding culture and positive school environment.
- Effective support for disadvantaged pupils leading to strong outcomes.
- Leadership establishes clear expectations for behaviour and teaching.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent teaching quality limits depth of pupils' understanding.
- Pupils in early reading stages do not receive effective phonics instruction.
- Limited extra-curricular opportunities result in low participation.
- Some students in the sixth form do not achieve their potential.
Attainment 8 Score
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
- English
- Maths
- 3 subjects from qualifications that count towards the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), like sciences, language and history
- 3 more GCSE qualifications (including EBacc subjects) or technical awards from a list approved by the Department for Education
Each grade a pupil gets is assigned a point score from 9 (the highest) to 1 (the lowest). These scores are added up, with English and maths counted twice.
| School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|
| 48.8 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 47.4% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 69.3% |
Attainment 8 Score
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Attaimenment 8 is a measure of a pupil's average grade across a set of 8 subjects. The 8 subjects which make up Attainment 8 are:
Sample
UnlockGCSE Results
Note: Exam results were not published in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.
Sample
UnlockPoints
| Points | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Points | 30.89 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 30.38 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | C | B- | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | C | B- | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 9.4% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 68 | 18 |
| Third Preference | 72 | 22 |
| From another Local Authority | 79 | 26 |
Previous Years
Sample
UnlockDestinations after GCSE's
| Staying in Education | |
| > Further Education | |
| > School Sixth Form | |
| > Sixth Form College | |
| > Other Education | |
| Apprenticeships | |
| Employment | |
| Not in education or employment | |
| Unknown |
| Name | Distance |
|
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0.26 miles |
|
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|
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0.45 miles |
|
South Park Primary School
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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