St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School Review 2026: A Good Catholic Secondary with Strong Community Values

In September 1963, just 90 boys and five teachers walked through the doors of the newly opened St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School in Kings Norton, Birmingham. More than sixty years later, the school has grown to serve approximately 1,158 students, but it has retained the purposeful Catholic ethos that characterised its founding. Today's motto, "committed learners, exceptional people," encapsulates the school's unwavering commitment to ambitious education rooted in faith and community values. The school received a Good rating from Ofsted in May 2024 and was rated Outstanding in all areas by Catholic Schools Inspectorate in December 2022. Part of the Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy Company, the school combines rigorous academics with a carefully constructed curriculum that develops personalities and furthers individual interests. With strong pastoral care, a plethora of extracurricular activities, and consistent academic progress, St Thomas Aquinas continues to serve its mixed-gender cohort across secondary and sixth form with genuine care for every individual, including those facing additional barriers to success.

Walk through the school on any given day, and the calm, purposeful atmosphere is immediately evident. Relationships between staff and pupils are respectful and commonplace, with students described as welcoming, friendly, and polite. The behaviour expectations are high and clearly understood, with staff dealing with issues quickly and effectively. This is a school where the Catholic ethos is genuinely lived, not simply displayed on walls. The principal, Chris Martin, who took up the role in November 2018, leads the school with a focus on inclusion and high ambition for every student, including those facing disadvantage or with special educational needs.

The school's inclusive philosophy means that disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND are not peripheral to the school's vision but central to it. All adults in the community work to help every pupil become the best they can be. The school utilises its Catholic values highly effectively to support personal development. Pupils benefit from a carefully constructed curriculum that develops their personalities and furthers their interests. The Aquinas Experience, a distinctive initiative, ensures that pupils have access to trips, residentials, and visits that broaden their understanding and experiences.

The physical environment reflects purposeful learning. The library, known as the Aquinas Resource Centre or ARC, provides a quiet space for study and reflection. Facilities include a large sports hall, a dedicated gym, and a music technology suite equipped for both composition and performance. The eight houses within the school, each named after Catholic saints, create additional communities within the larger whole: Saint Oscar Romero, Pope Saint John Paul, Saint John Bosco, Saint John Henry Newman, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Saint John Fisher, Saint Martin de Porres, and Saint Thomas More. These house structures support pastoral care and foster a sense of belonging.

GCSE Performance

Academic performance at St Thomas Aquinas reflects solid achievement. In 2024, the school achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 52.2, slightly above the England average of 45.9. This indicates that the typical student here achieves grades that exceed the national benchmark. The Progress 8 measure, a key indicator of how much progress students make during secondary school, stood at +0.6, demonstrating that pupils make above-average progress from their starting points.

Approximately 47% of pupils achieved grades 5 or above in English and mathematics combined (the traditional threshold for strong GCSE passes). The English Baccalaureate entry rate, a measure of curriculum breadth, stood at 22%, with an average EBacc APS score of 4.51, above the England average of 4.08. These figures place the school in the national typical band (25th-60th percentile) for GCSE performance across England (FindMySchool ranking). Within Birmingham, St Thomas Aquinas ranks 27th among secondary schools for GCSE outcomes, demonstrating a solid position within the local context.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form, currently a focus area for development, has seen improvements in recent years. At A-level in 2023, 99% of entries achieved A*-E grades, with 66% at A*-C (the strongest grades). The school ranks 1,469th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the national typical band alongside the middle 35% of sixth forms across the country. In 2023, students secured places at a range of universities including Aeronautical Engineering at Bristol, Law at University of Birmingham, Adult Nursing at King's College London, and Theology at Edinburgh University, demonstrating successful progression to competitive courses.

According to school data, the 2023-24 leavers cohort saw 73% progress to university, with 20% entering employment. Students have secured places at institutions including University of Birmingham, Warwick, Edinburgh, and other respected universities.

Teachers here have strong subject knowledge and implement the school's rigorous curriculum effectively. The school has deliberately taken the national curriculum as a minimum starting point for Key Stage 3, deliberately going beyond statutory requirements to provide ambitious coverage. All pupils in Key Stage 3, including those with SEND, learn across a wide range of subjects, ensuring breadth of experience and opportunity.

Assessment is used well to identify when pupils have fallen behind or need further support. Teachers adapt their teaching to ensure that pupils can achieve, and interventions for those who need additional help are swift and effective. The school has particular strength in supporting pupils who need help with reading. Adults provide targeted support to pupils requiring extra assistance in improving reading accuracy and fluency. Pupils read widely and often across the curriculum, with all pupils in Key Stage 3 reading books to broaden their literary repertoire. As a result, the vast majority of pupils enjoy reading and do so at a level appropriate for their age.

The curriculum structure does present one challenge: pupils currently make their option choices at the end of Year 8, beginning GCSE work in Year 9 alongside the extensive wider curriculum offer. This means that not all pupils in Year 9 study the full range of subjects they might otherwise choose, and for a few pupils, the school's very high ambitions are not always fully realised. The school is considering how best to refine this structure.

Pastoral care at St Thomas Aquinas is identified as very strong. Experienced tutors provide pastoral support and monitor student progress, advising and encouraging throughout the school year. The school has high expectations of pupils' behaviour, and positive relationships further promote positive conduct. Staff deal quickly and effectively with any concerns that arise.

The school ensures that provision for pupils with SEND helps them be successful. Staff identify anyone who needs extra help quickly and provide a range of information to teachers about how best to support individuals in lessons. The interventions that follow are swift and effective, enabling pupils to overcome challenges and do well.

Safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the school has created an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first. Staff enjoy working here and report that leaders are mindful of workload and wellbeing. However, there remains a small number of pupils who find it challenging to meet the school's high behaviour expectations, and the school is working to support these individuals more effectively to ensure they do not miss valuable learning time through repeated suspension.

The extracurricular offer at St Thomas Aquinas is extensive and genuinely diverse, reflecting the school's commitment to developing the whole person. The school provides what Ofsted inspectors described as "a plethora of sporting and creative clubs," with something for every interest and ability.

Music & Performing Arts

Music plays a central role in school life. The school operates a dedicated choir, which performs at key school events including the Evening of Carols and Readings during December and formal ceremonies throughout the year. There is a music technology suite equipped with composition and recording facilities, enabling students to explore modern music production. The sixth form hosts a Sixth Form Revue, an annual performance that showcases student talent across music, comedy, and drama.

Drama & Theatre

Numerous drama productions run throughout the school year, providing opportunities for students to develop performance skills and confidence. Productions are not restricted to an elite group; the school deliberately ensures that drama opportunities are available for all pupils throughout the year. These range from full-scale productions to smaller performances, allowing students of all abilities to participate.

STEM Activities

Science is supported by a thriving STEM Club for Key Stage 3 students, where participants complete the CREST award (a nationally recognised qualification for science engagement). This initiative exposes students to practical scientific investigation and encourages the development of a "scientific mind." The news archives from the school reference STEM club double-headers and ongoing engagement with science enrichment.

Sports & Physical Activity

The school facilities support a comprehensive sports programme. A large sports hall and dedicated gym enable indoor sports, whilst the playing fields support traditional outdoor pursuits. Sports news indicates regular fixtures and achievements, with students competing in badminton, cricket, football, gym, netball, rugby, tag rugby, tennis, yoga, futsal, volleyball, martial arts, softball, ultimate frisbee, table tennis, and touch football. Staff mentioned in the school's history include Pat Manion, a PE teacher from the school's opening in 1963, whose legacy reflects the school's long-standing commitment to sport.

Wider Opportunities

Beyond structured clubs, the school offers enrichment through specific initiatives. The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, strongly featured in sixth form, enables students to develop resilience and leadership through expeditions and volunteering. Students completing the award develop life skills valued by universities and employers. Sixth form students engage with an annual Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes during May half-term, an experience that combines voluntary service, faith practice, and personal growth as they care for sick and disabled pilgrims. Geography fieldwork includes trips to locations such as Kings Norton itself, allowing students to apply classroom learning to the local environment. A retreat programme for Year 8 students provides reflection and community building. The Climate Change Day at Alton Castle represents engagement with contemporary issues, run in partnership with the chaplaincy. Specialist speakers visit the school; recent engagements have included figures from the NHS and external presenters addressing various year groups.

The school also facilitates the Aquinas Experience, its signature programme of trips and residential activities. These opportunities, carefully sequenced across the school years, expose students to experiences that develop their personalities and further their interests. The programme has included skiing trips (Team GB Skiing) and outdoor education experiences (Arete Outdoor Education Trip to Snowdonia).

Sixth form education is delivered in partnership with Oaks Sixth Form College, a consortium of seven secondary schools across south-west Birmingham. This collaborative structure allows the school to offer a diverse range of A-level and vocational courses. All sixth form students study Core Religious Education across their two-year career, grounding their academic work in the school's faith values. They also complete an Extended Project, which requires students to apply Catholic Social Teaching to a moral and ethical issue of their choice. This emphasis on linking knowledge to values is distinctive and reflects the school's mission.

Sixth form students benefit from strong teaching and dedicated pastoral care. Recent staffing improvements have resolved previous course availability issues, and the school has worked to enhance provision in this phase after acknowledging that students had not achieved as well as they could in recent years. Students receive impartial advice about possible career pathways, and almost all progress to appropriate destinations following completion of their courses.

The school is non-selective and serves students across a diverse range of backgrounds and abilities. In recent years, the Year 7 intake has reflected a highly oversubscribed demand, with approximately 3.76 applications for every place available. This demonstrates strong local confidence in the school.

Approximately 47% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that reflects significant deprivation within the school's catchment area. The school has also worked deliberately to support pupils facing additional barriers, with particular emphasis on SEND provision and support for disadvantaged learners.

School day: 8:50am to 3:20pm (timing may vary; contact the school to confirm exact schedule).

Uniform: The school requires a standard uniform, with details available on the school website.

Location: The school is situated on Wychall Lane in Kings Norton, Birmingham, West Midlands, B38 8AP. It can be reached by public transport, with bus routes serving the area. Parking is available on school premises, though availability may be limited during peak times.

Transport: The school's location on the edge of Kings Norton provides reasonable access to local communities. Families should check transport links based on their specific address. The school website provides travel and transport guidance.

Sixth form staffing has been a recent concern. The school recently experienced staffing challenges that resulted in some popular A-level courses not being available. Whilst the school has resolved these issues for the coming academic year, families considering sixth form entry should verify subject availability directly with the school, as course provision can shift.

Behaviour support remains an ongoing area. Whilst the vast majority of pupils meet the school's high behaviour expectations, a small number find this challenging. Some of these pupils have experienced repeated suspension. The school is actively working to support these individuals more effectively, but families should be aware that behaviour management remains a focus area for development.

Option choices at the end of Year 8 may limit subject breadth. Currently, pupils select their GCSE options at the end of Year 8 and begin GCSE work in Year 9. This timing means that pupils do not always study the full breadth of subjects available during Key Stage 3. The school is considering refining this structure to ensure all pupils can access the fullest possible curriculum.

St Thomas Aquinas is a good Catholic secondary school with genuinely inclusive values and strong community roots. The motto "committed learners, exceptional people" is not merely aspirational; it shapes daily practice. The school delivers solid academic outcomes, prioritises pastoral care, and provides a diverse range of experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. Most significantly, it operates from the conviction that high ambitions should apply to every pupil, not just a select few.

The school is best suited to families seeking a grounded secondary education rooted in Catholic values, strong pastoral support, and genuine inclusion of pupils with additional needs. Parents comfortable with a school where faith is integrated throughout and who value community and personal development alongside academics will find much to appreciate. Those prioritising pure academic selection or a secular environment should look elsewhere, as the Catholic ethos and inclusive mixed-ability structure are central to the school's identity.

The main challenge is securing a sixth form place if pursuing A-levels, as the consortium structure with Oaks Sixth Form College means places are limited and competitive. Families should engage early with sixth form options and course requirements if this is a goal.