Saint Gregory's Catholic College: Sixth Form Excellence and Catholic Values in Bath

When Saint Gregory's Comprehensive School opened in 1979, it brought together two established Bath institutions: Cardinal Newman School and La Sainte Union Convent School, which had educated local girls since 1858. Today, nearly five decades later, the school has become a confident, ambitious centre of learning where over 1,000 students develop their talents within a genuinely Catholic environment. Mrs Melissa George, who arrived in September 2023 from an independent Catholic school in London, leads with clear vision. Recent Ofsted inspection confirms solid progress: the school rates Good overall, with Outstanding grades for Behaviour and Attitudes and Personal Development. Results place the school in the middle tier nationally (FindMySchool ranking: 1,523rd in England for GCSE, 1,440th for A-level). The school ranks 9th locally among Bath secondaries and 11th regionally for A-level.

Saint Gregory's occupies a modernised campus in Odd Down on the city's southern fringe, where investment in recent years has visibly transformed the physical environment. The Gilchrist Studio, a purpose-built centre for dance and drama, anchors the performing arts offer. The Gateway Building, finished more recently, contains a dedicated sixth form learning resource centre and catering facility. An all-weather pitch supports football, tennis and athletics alongside conventional courts and fields.

The school's Catholic character permeates daily life without alienating those of other faiths or none. Four houses bear the names of saints: Stein, Romero, Bakhita and Francis. Each student belongs to a house and participates in house competitions and charitable initiatives throughout the year. Chapel is central: the Lay Chaplain oversees a programme of prayer, worship, retreats and liturgies. Break times feature Rosary, Lectio Divina and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament; lunchtimes offer meditation, arts and games. Whole-school Masses punctuate the year. Year 8 pupils experience a first residential retreat at St Cassian's in Berkshire; Years 9-10 return to Kintbury for extended Lasallian-themed retreats. Year 11 gathers in Devon for a diocesan retreat experience.

Academically, the school balances rigorous expectation with genuine care. Inspectors found behaviour to be exemplary and personal development a particular strength. Students describe feeling known and supported. Families appreciate the school's overt sensitivity towards those struggling financially: breakfast club is free, and computers are provided for pupils eligible for free school meals.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, 51% of pupils achieved Attainment 8 scores at the school, compared to the England average of 46%. This sits above England average (FindMySchool data). The school ranks 1,523rd in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the middle 35% of schools nationally (25th to 60th percentile) and 9th among Bath secondaries. Progress 8 averaging +0.42 indicates students make well above-average progress from their starting points.

Entry to the English Baccalaureate shows modest uptake: 16% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above across all EBacc subjects (English, maths, science, one humanity and one language). The school's philosophy emphasises breadth and individual choice rather than EBacc pressure.

A-Level Performance

At A-level, 19% of all grades achieved A*-A, with 96% of students securing A*-E across all subjects. This compares to the England average of 24% at A*-A, meaning A-level cohorts here perform slightly below the national mean. However, value-added indicators reveal particular strength: art, photography and PE students achieved exceptional progress relative to their starting points.

The sixth form, jointly branded The New Sixth with federation partner St Mark's School, opened in 2013 following the school's soft federation with Larkhall. It offers over 25 A-level subjects including drama, Spanish, maths, biology and English. Recent cohorts have secured places at reputable universities including Bath Spa, Swansea and Southampton (FindMySchool ranking: 1,440th in England for A-level, placing the school in the middle tier nationally and 11th regionally).

The curriculum deliberately balances STEM with Performing Arts, reflecting the school's dual specialist status. Geography has been awarded a national Centre of Excellence Award by the Geographical Association. History received Quality Mark Gold. Science teaching benefits from specialist status designation.

Drama is taught in dedicated purpose-built facilities and draws on professional visiting examiners. GCSE specifications emphasise devised and scripted performance, with students creating portfolios tracked through multiple visits to live theatre. Subjects like PE offer both theoretical and practical understanding, with 40% of the final grade based on practical performance across three different physical activities.

Teaching aims to be ambitious without becoming narrow. Sixth formers benefit from dedicated tuition and enrichment: Axiom Maths Circles, a problem-solving and logical-thinking forum, runs after school for Year 7 onwards. The school runs a Great Spelling Bee competition. Geography students participate in Bath Student Parliament and UN Association conferences, deepening their understanding of global citizenship.

The 2023-24 leavers cohort (79 students) showed the following distribution: 57% progressed to university, 4% to further education colleges, 4% to apprenticeships, and 22% to employment. This reflects a school where academic progression is the primary pathway but alternatives remain visible and respected.

University destinations lean towards regional institutions, with Bath Spa, Swansea and Southampton consistently represented. Occasional Oxbridge success occurs: recent leavers have secured places at Cambridge (reading Linguistics, Veterinary Studies) and Oxford (reading Chemistry), though these remain exceptions rather than expectations (FindMySchool data: 1 Oxbridge acceptance out of 7 applications in the measurement period).

For students exiting at GCSE, a significant cohort leave to pursue apprenticeships, further education or employment, reflecting the school's non-selective, non-selective character and genuine breadth of student aspiration and ability.

The school's enrichment programme is genuinely substantial, reflecting its Performing Arts and Science specialist status and the energy of both staff and students. The following programmes define school life:

Music: A Defining Strength

The Music department was recognised as a Music Mark School, receiving an award for Ambition and Quality Music education. This distinction reflects the breadth of ensemble provision: the school runs chapel choir, orchestra and smaller ensembles. Students participate in battle-of-the-bands style competitions. A Level music success includes multiple high grades. Music tuition is available for interested learners, though availability varies by demand.

Drama and Performing Arts

The Gilchrist Studio houses the drama centre and hosts both GCSE and A-level productions. Recent cohorts include A-level scripted exam moderation with external examiners, suggesting quality provision. GCSE drama follows Eduqas specification, covering devised and scripted performance plus design elements: students learn sound, lighting, costume and make-up technical skills. A-level offers extended performance repertoire and engagement with influential practitioners.

Fine Art and Photography

The school's participation in the YBA (Young British Artists) Exhibition at Burdall's Yard — with 10 GCSE and A-level students' works displayed — signals engagement with professional exhibition standards. Private views attract significant attendance. The department appears well-integrated with Bath's wider visual arts community.

STEM and Technology

Science specialist status translates into strong department identity. Biology, chemistry and physics are taught separately from Year 7. Axiom Maths Circles, running after school, embodies a commitment to mathematical depth and problem-solving beyond the curriculum. The school has invested in all-weather outdoor facilities and modern science spaces.

Sports: Comprehensive Participation

Sport is genuinely inclusive, with participation described as high. Teams compete in athletics, basketball, cricket, cross-country, football, netball, rounders, rugby (including girls' rugby), sportshall athletics, table tennis and trampolining. A-level PE includes theoretical and practical components. The all-weather pitch and conventional courts support both competitive and recreational play.

Chaplaincy and Service

The Lay Chaplain oversees a structured programme of prayer and worship accessible throughout the day. Year 7 Chaplaincy Team, charity and environment representatives, Year 10 Young Volunteers and Year 12 CAFOD Young Leaders form the spine of service initiatives. Tutor groups assemble Christmas hampers distributed to Julian House (homeless services), Bath Women's Refuge, the RUH Children's ward and local care homes. Young volunteers raise funds through in-school enterprise. Retreats incorporate faith exploration and personal reflection.

Enrichment Beyond Standard Curriculum

Students attend educational visits including historical sites and theatre productions. Year 10 and 11 pupils access careers guidance, university open days, financial advice and apprenticeship information through sixth form preparation sessions. The school uses residential retreat experiences to strengthen year-group cohesion and faith development.

Houses and Leadership Opportunities

The four-house system (Stein, Romero, Bakhita, Francis) creates vertical mentoring relationships and competition. House captains and representatives lead service initiatives and social activities. This distributed leadership model supports student agency and responsibility.

The school is non-selective. It admits up to 160 pupils annually for Year 7, making entry accessible on a first-preference basis if sufficient applications are not received.

Priority in oversubscription is given first to baptised Catholic children attending designated feeder primaries within the South Clifton Catholic Federation (St John's Bath, St Mary's Bath, St Benedict's Midsomer Norton, SS Joseph and Teresa Wells, St Paul's Yate, St Patrick's Corsham, St Mary's Chippenham, Our Lady of Lourdes Kingswood). Second priority goes to baptised Catholics within the designated area served by the Diocese of Clifton. Proof of baptism (original certificate or copy) is required. Non-Catholic children are welcome and admitted after Catholic priorities are satisfied, provided places remain.

The school serves a catchment spanning Bath and North East Somerset, North West Wiltshire and north Somerset. School transport operates, with a Transport Coordinator available to discuss routes and eligibility. Open events typically run in summer and autumn terms; families can visit by appointment at other times. Year 5 Experience days allow prospective pupils to sample lessons and meet staff.

Sixth form entry is separate. Students from St Mark's School (the federation partner) transfer internally; external students apply through a distinct sixth form admissions route. Sixth form entry requirements are set at appropriate GCSE grades, typically requiring grade 4 minimum in English and maths plus subject-specific requirements for chosen A-levels.

Tutors know students well: tutor groups are small and remain together through a student's journey. Year group heads oversee pastoral wellbeing, with Head of Year 7 supporting transition from primary. The school explicitly values individual needs as a whole-school responsibility: all staff are trained as teachers of students with SEND. Curriculum is adapted and scaffolded where needed. Liaison between school and outside agencies (CAMHS, educational psychology, speech and language therapy) supports families.

Behaviour is exemplary according to Ofsted. The school's mobile phone policy is strict: devices are permitted but must remain off and unseen throughout the day except for genuine medical emergencies pre-approved through formal medical plan agreements. This clarity removes distraction and supports focus.

A trained counsellor offers support. The Lay Chaplain and pastoral team provide accessible conversation. Breakfast club is free for all, removing financial barriers to timely arrival and ensuring no student is hungry. Computers are provided to pupils on free school meals, supporting digital access and homework completion.

School Hours

The standard day runs from approximately 8:50am to 3:20pm. Sixth form may follow different schedules depending on timetable and choice of subjects.

Wraparound Care

Breakfast club is free and available daily before school. After-school supervision is available through school arrangements; families should contact the main office (01225 832873) for current provision details. Holiday club operates during main school holidays; contact admissions@st-gregorys.org.uk for information.

Transport

School transport routes cover Bath and North East Somerset and extending into nearby Wiltshire and Somerset. A dedicated Transport Coordinator manages routes and eligibility. The school is accessible by public transport; nearest stations are Bath Spa (a short distance from the city centre) and Bristol Temple Meads. Walking and cycling routes exist, though Odd Down is somewhat removed from Bath's central bus hubs.

Facilities

On-site catering runs through a dedicated facility in the Gateway Building. Uniform is required. Mobile phones are permitted but strictly controlled. The campus is modern, having undergone recent significant investment.

Ofsted ratings change. The school was rated Outstanding in 2008 and 2013, but slipped to Good in 2022. While Behaviour and Personal Development remain Outstanding, the overall Good rating reflects inspectors' view that some areas need continued development. This is not a school in decline, but families should be aware of the trajectory and ask specific questions during visits about leadership's improvement plans.

Sixth form may feel small. Whilst the federation with St Mark's created The New Sixth, cohort sizes remain modest. Students seeking a very large, diverse sixth form (as found in larger independents or city-centre state schools) may find options more limited here. However, this can also mean closer staff contact and smaller class sizes.

Catholic ethos is genuine and pervasive. Prayer, worship, Mass attendance and Catholic teaching are woven throughout. Families uncomfortable with regular religious practice should carefully consider whether this school aligns with their values. Non-Catholic families are welcome, but the Catholic character is not cosmetic.

Finishing at 3:20pm leaves limited late-stay options. Beyond free breakfast club and available after-school clubs, wraparound care appears more limited than some larger state secondaries. Families relying on extended school day provision should clarify arrangements in advance.

A genuinely Catholic community school that balances academic rigour, pastoral care and spiritual development with real effectiveness. Mrs George's leadership is refreshing; the school clearly listens to families and remains responsive to need. Results place the school squarely in the capable middle tier nationally, with clear strengths in progress, student behaviour, personal development and enrichment breadth. The Ofsted Good rating reflects realistic assessment rather than complacency; inspectors confirmed real strengths and identified areas needing work — which the leadership is addressing visibly.

Best suited to families seeking a non-selective, genuinely inclusive Catholic education where chapel and community service form part of daily rhythm; where mixed-ability teaching means genuine breadth rather than early streaming; and where sixth form remains manageable in scale. Families from any faith (or none) who respect Catholic values and want their children immersed in an overtly religious environment will find this school welcoming and effective. Less suitable for those seeking a highly selective academic hothouse, or for families uncomfortable with Catholic teaching and practice as core to school life.