Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
| Type | Secondary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 11-18 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Colney Heath Lane St Albans Hertfordshire AL4 0TT |
| Phone | 01727860079 |
| Reference Number | 137938 |
Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School has demonstrated outstanding overall effectiveness, with remarkable performance across all key areas including the quality of education, behavior and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The school's commitment to providing an exemplary education is evident in the high levels of care and respect among students, who actively engage in both academic and extra-curricular activities. The supportive environment fosters a culture of kindness and a strong sense of community, making the school a welcoming place for both students and visitors alike. Significant strengths include the ambitious and well-structured curriculum, which has been effectively delivered to ensure high-quality pupil work. High academic and behavioral expectations are met by students, assisted by thorough feedback from teachers. Additionally, the strong leadership and dedicated support from the Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust contribute to the school's success, ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve excellent outcomes.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 1097 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 60.07%
Girls: 39.93% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 12% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 32.5% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 23.3 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 112 | 71 | 183 |
| 8 | 102 | 84 | 186 |
| 9 | 114 | 69 | 183 |
| 10 | 114 | 67 | 181 |
| 11 | 110 | 65 | 175 |
| 12 | 61 | 43 | 104 |
| 13 | 45 | 39 | 84 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 40.5% |
| White, Other | 23.2% |
| African | 13.1% |
| Irish | 5% |
| Mixed, Other | 3.1% |
| White & Black (African) | 2.6% |
| Asian, Other | 2.1% |
| White & Asian | 2% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 1.7% |
| Indian | 1.6% |
| Caribbean | 1.2% |
| Chinese | 0.6% |
| Unclassified | 0.6% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Outstanding |
| > Quality of education | Outstanding |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Outstanding |
| > Personal Development | Outstanding |
| > Leadership & Management | Outstanding |
| > Sixth Form Provision | Outstanding |
| Last Report Date | 14 Nov 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 14 Nov 2023 | School inspection: |
| 19 Oct 2021 | School inspection |
| 22 Jun 2016 | Full inspection: |
| 02 Dec 2015 | Monitoring visit |
| 10 Feb 2015 | Monitoring visit |
| 04 Nov 2014 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Jun 2014 | Monitoring visit |
| 21 Jan 2014 | Monitoring visit |
| 09 Oct 2013 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Aug 2012 | Academy conversion letter |
| 18 Oct 2011 | Full inspection: |
| Previously as Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School | |
| 18 Oct 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 26 Jan 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 26 Jan 2011 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 18 Mar 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 18 Mar 2009 | Full inspection: |
| 10 Dec 2007 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 10 Dec 2007 | Curriculum and development visit |
| 30 Jan 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Jan 2006 | Full inspection: |
| 30 Oct 2000 | Full inspection |
| 30 Oct 2000 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Exemplary education provided by caring staff
- High levels of mutual respect and positivity among pupils
- Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
- Thorough feedback helps pupils understand and improve their work
- Extensive range of enrichment activities for personal development
- Exceptional behavior and low levels of suspension
- Strong leadership with relentless drive for educational quality
- Commitment to supporting SEND pupils effectively
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 56.4 |
GCSE Results
| Metric | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 64.6% | ||
| 5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4 (or A-C) | 80.6% |
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 | 36.06 | ||
| Average Points (best 3) | 37.35 |
Grades
| School | Local | Nationwide | |
| Average Grade | B- | B- | C+ |
| Average Grade (best 3) | B- | B- | C+ |
| Percentage | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students getting AAB or better | 13% |
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| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 172 | 13 |
| Third Preference | 164 | 4 |
| From another Local Authority | 84 | 33 |
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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0.82 miles |
|
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|
Camp Primary and Nursery School
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|
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1.07 miles |
|
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1.12 miles |
|
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Cell Barnes Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 5QJ |
1.12 miles |
|
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1.14 miles |
|
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|
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|
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|
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1.88 miles |
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1.89 miles |
|
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1.89 miles |
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