The Palmer Catholic Academy

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.

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.

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 The Palmer Catholic Academy attended 92.7% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 24.1% 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, 6.3% of pupils at The Palmer Catholic Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 2 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 The Palmer Catholic Academy had 15.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.2% 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, 8.6% of pupils at The Palmer Catholic Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 2024–25 The Palmer Catholic Academy received £8,212 and spent £8,323 for each of its 1,155 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £1,658,000 (£1,436 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust, income was £8,234 and spending £8,332 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Redbridge · Redbridge local authority: places and applications

The Palmer Catholic Academy is part of The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust, which runs 8 schools. The nearest others:

• St Aidan's Catholic Primary Academy Ilford
• SS Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary School Ilford
• St Vincent's Catholic Primary School Dagenham
• The St Teresa Catholic Primary School Dagenham
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Barking
• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Dagenham
• Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School London

What is The Palmer Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for The Palmer Catholic Academy is Needs attention, from an inspection in May 2026.

When was The Palmer Catholic Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

The Palmer Catholic Academy was last inspected in May 2026.

How many pupils does The Palmer Catholic Academy have?

The Palmer Catholic Academy has 1,132 pupils on roll.

What age range does The Palmer Catholic Academy cover?

The Palmer Catholic Academy for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are The Palmer Catholic Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 48.5, and 47% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is The Palmer Catholic Academy?

The Palmer Catholic Academy is at Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex, IG3 8EU.