When you step through the gates on Highgate Road, the Georgian buildings of La Sainte Union reveal an institution with more than a century and a half of educational heritage. The school takes its name from a teaching order founded in 1826 by Father Jean-Baptiste Debrabant, a Belgian priest who believed that Christian education offered the surest path to informed, engaged citizens. Today, under Head Mrs Sophie Fegan, the school serves around 700 girls aged 11-16, alongside boys in its sixth form — the mixed LaSWAP Consortium, a partnership with three neighbouring schools offering one of London's largest sixth form options.
The most recent Ofsted inspection in December 2024 awarded Good ratings in all five categories under the new inspection framework. The school occupies a beautiful campus adjacent to Hampstead Heath, a setting that creates genuine space for both academic work and personal reflection. Academic performance sits firmly in the middle tier nationally: girls rank in line with the middle 35% of England schools for both GCSE and A-level outcomes (FindMySchool data), reflecting solid attainment rather than elite status. What distinguishes the school is a genuine Catholic character, extensive performing arts provision, and the kind of close pastoral oversight where students feel genuinely known.
The school's values of service, dignity, respect, academic rigour, cooperation and excellence are woven into daily life. Walking through the corridors, girls speak naturally of their teachers, mention the spacious grounds, and describe feeling safe within a close-knit community. The most recent Ofsted inspection emphasised this: pupils demonstrate kindness towards one another, bullying is rare, and the atmosphere is one of calm purposefulness.
The Catholic character is real and pervasive, though not excluding. Approximately half the student body speak English as an additional language, and girls of other faiths or none are welcomed and successfully integrated. Daily prayers, a weekly Mass, and a dedicated retreat programme for all year groups anchor the school's Christian identity, without creating barriers for families of different backgrounds. Interfaith dialogue is explicitly part of the religious education curriculum.
The grounds themselves matter. The original Georgian mansion dating back centuries has been thoughtfully extended, most notably in the 1960s with a Brutalist science and teaching block. The school recently honoured actress Imelda Staunton, an alumna, by naming the newly renovated drama studio in her honour. The Imelda Staunton Drama Studio is a purpose-built performance space with integrated lighting and sound, allowing students to work at a professional standard. This is not incidental: the school has strong links with the Donmar Warehouse and regularly takes students to West End productions.
With an average Attainment 8 score of 48.7 (the measure that tracks results across a pupil's best eight subjects), La Sainte Union sits at the England average of 45.9. This reflects realistic expectation-setting: pupils do well relative to their starting points, rather than chasing elite exam factories. The 2024 cohort achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.18, indicating above-average progress from their starting points compared to other pupils with similar attainment on entry. Approximately 16% achieved grade 5 or above across English, maths and sciences — an English Baccalaureate focus that the school actively supports. GCSE results have been described as the school's "best ever" in recent communications, suggesting a positive trajectory.
The school ranks 1701st in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it among the middle 37% of England schools. Locally in Camden, the school ranks 9th among secondary schools.
At sixth form (delivered through the LaSWAP Consortium), girls and boys access one of London's largest post-16 curricula, with approximately 42 distinct A-level courses on offer. In 2024, approximately 9% of A-level grades were A*, 13% were A, and 27% were B grades. This means just under half (49%) of entries achieved A*-B grades. The average A-level rank is 1098th in England (FindMySchool data), placing the school in line with the middle 41% nationally. Girls consistently progress to universities including Russell Group institutions, with a leavers cohort in 2024 showing 61% progressing to university, 4% to further education, and 4% to apprenticeships.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
48.77%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The 2024 Ofsted inspection noted that teaching is "good in a wide range of subjects with some outstanding practice." Teachers have strong subject expertise and deliberately model high expectations in lessons. The curriculum is structured to build understanding over time, with particular emphasis on STEAM subjects — science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. The school's STEAM curriculum is explicitly flagged as a particular strength. Pupils with special educational needs or disabilities progress well through carefully sequenced learning.
The school operates a house system that extends beyond pastoral function into curricular engagement, promoting collaborative learning and cross-year mentoring. Year 7 pupils begin in mixed-ability groups (except for mathematics, where setting begins, and an English nurture group for those requiring intensive support). By Year 9, this scaffolding supports increasingly independent learners who are prepared for the demands of GCSE and beyond.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
The extracurricular programme at La Sainte Union is genuinely distinctive, with drama and music forming particular pillars of school life. This is not window dressing; these areas generate genuine achievement and represent serious pathways for ambitious students.
Drama sits at the heart of school culture. The school produces one to two major full-school productions annually, with an extraordinary range: recent work includes Shakespeare (Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Julius Caesar), contemporary plays (The Good Woman of Setzuan, The Crucible, Top Girls, Metamorphosis, Blood Wedding), musicals (Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago) and classical work (Festival of Greek Theatre). Year 10 pupils performing GCSE Drama have the exceptional opportunity to take their assessed work to local theatres rather than school halls, gaining real professional experience. Year 7 and 8 pupils access an after-school Drama Club with dedicated teaching. Every Year 9 student completes a Trinity College Speech and Drama exam, fully funded by the school, with more than half achieving Distinctions annually. The Donmar Warehouse partnership provides bespoke workshops and discounted access to productions, deepening understanding of professional theatre practice.
Music is equally central. The school choir tours European cathedrals every other year — a marker of serious musical ambition. Students regularly win awards in inter-school competitions. The school holds Music Mark status, signalling sustained commitment to excellence across the year groups. Ensembles include traditional structures (choir, orchestra) alongside specialist groups. Trips to CERN in Switzerland and NASA in Florida link science learning with hands-on experience, broadening horizons beyond the classroom.
The clubs and societies programme is extensive and genuinely student-led in many cases. Named offerings include Debating Society, Young Interpreters Club, Creative Writing Club, Philosophy Club, Classics Club, Latin Club, and Molecule to Medicine (a science enrichment group). There is also Football Club, with girls' teams competing in local and county fixtures. Art Club, Leadership roles across the school council, reading mentors, and representation roles all develop leadership experience. Pupils can choose clubs for leisure and friendship, or engage them competitively — the school actively supports representation through sports teams, drama performances, and debate competitions.
The school runs a full programme of educational visits and speakers. In 2025, the school remained in the top 25% nationally for attendance, suggesting that engagement and wellbeing translate to consistent presence. Links with schools in France and Spain enrich both language learning and cultural awareness. The annual "Myths and Monsters" day — where pupils from local primary schools are immersed in a full day of ancient Greek storytelling, drama, music and Olympic-style games in school uniform — demonstrates the school's commitment to developing a love of learning from the earliest secondary transition moments.
Friday Evening Homework Support is available Monday to Thursday until 6pm for Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils, signalling institutional commitment to ensuring no pupil falls behind due to home circumstances. The school also partners with Magic Breakfast to provide free breakfast for all students, removing a barrier to punctual arrival and learning readiness.
The Brilliant Club Scholars Programme identifies high-achieving students for further enrichment and mentoring towards university aspiration. This multi-layered approach — accessible participation, achievement-focused teams, enrichment for the gifted, and safety nets for those struggling — creates a genuinely inclusive extracurricular world.
The majority of pupils remain for sixth form within the LaSWAP Consortium. Others progress to external schools or further education colleges. The school provides "comprehensive guidance on future careers and pathways," according to the most recent Ofsted report.
In 2024, 61% of leavers progressed to university. Beyond that cohort, 4% moved into further education, 4% into apprenticeships, and 22% into employment. Sixth form students benefit from a dedicated Careers and Curriculum Support Manager, plus academic tutors and pastoral support specialists. The school's award-winning careers programme explicitly connects students with local, national and global organisations, widening perceptions of what careers are accessible, particularly encouraging girls to consider fields historically dominated by men.
While specific Russell Group destination data is not published on the school website, six-form leavers have secured places at universities beyond the local London options, with evidence of progression to selective institutions.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 25%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
—
Offers
La Sainte Union is a voluntary-aided Roman Catholic secondary school. Admissions are coordinated by Camden Local Authority for Year 7 entry. The school is consistently oversubscribed, with 4.13 applications per place in recent years — a significant competitive ratio. Catholic children whose families are practising Catholics (evidenced through the Certificate of Practice) have priority. After looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school, places are allocated primarily by faith criteria and then by proximity to school. Eighteen places annually are awarded to pupils with demonstrable musical aptitude, regardless of faith background.
The sixth form (LaSWAP) is open to all faiths and genders. Entry requirements for sixth form are typically around grade 5 in GCSE Maths and English, with specific subjects requiring grade 6 or above depending on A-level choice. Boys enter in greater numbers for sixth form than they do earlier in secondary.
Admissions for the upcoming year typically run from the prior autumn. Open events are usually held in September and October. Prospective families should check the school website for current dates and online registration deadlines.
Applications
132
Total received
Places Offered
32
Subscription Rate
4.1x
Apps per place
Relationships between staff and students are described as strong. Students told the inspection that the school is a place of safety where they are well cared for. The house system provides pastoral oversight, with each pupil within a named house group for continuity and identity. A mental health and wellbeing programme offers dedicated support, including workshops on resilience, communication and leadership.
Year 7 pupils benefit from a structured induction focused on building confidence and foundational learning skills. A Year 7 retreat is a longstanding tradition that helps newer students develop connections, self-understanding and orientation to school values.
For students with SEND, the school identifies need early and sequences support carefully. An assessed group (approximately 1% of pupils) have statements or Education, Health and Care Plans. The school's Local Offer (published on its website) details provision for pupils with additional needs.
Girls from different ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds are actively supported in integration and leadership. The school's commitment to inclusion extends to creating safe space for LGBTQ+ students and supporting them as they explore identity.
School hours are 8:50am to 3:20pm for main school. Before and after-school provision is available in partnership with Highgate Newtown Community Centre, offering wrap-around care. A free breakfast programme operates daily through the Magic Breakfast partnership. Saturday study support is also available for those preparing for examinations.
The school is located on Highgate Road, Kentish Town, adjacent to Hampstead Heath. The area is well-served by bus routes (24, 210, 214 and others). Northern Line access (Kentish Town station) is within reasonable walking distance, along with Hampstead and Highgate stations further afield. Parking in the locality is limited due to residential permit schemes; the school itself has no dedicated car park. Walking and public transport are the practical options for most families.
The school uniform is formal: blazer, white shirt, regulation tie, skirt or trousers. Jewellery is minimal and prescribed. Uniform costs are absorbed within family budgeting; the school does not publish specific charges but works with families who face financial hardship.
Oversubscription and Faith Criteria: Competition for Year 7 places is intense. Catholic families with documented practising status have significant advantage; non-Catholic families face tighter odds. The school holds firm to its faith identity, and families uncomfortable with daily prayer, weekly Mass, and explicit Catholic teaching should look elsewhere.
Single-Sex Main School: Girls dominate years 7-11. While boys join in sixth form, the secondary experience is predominantly female. Families seeking co-education from Year 7 onwards should investigate alternatives.
Middle Attainment Tier: The school achieves solid results but does not sit at the elite end of London secondary performance. For families specifically seeking the highest-attaining cohort, more selective independent or grammar schools may offer different academic positioning. For families seeking strong, inclusive education without excessive exam pressure, the school's middle ground is appropriate.
No On-Site Sixth Form for Full Cohort: The LaSWAP Consortium is excellent, but it means sixth form teaching happens across four school sites. Some pupils transition to other institutions post-GCSE. This flexibility is valuable for some families; for others seeking continuity in a single building, it represents a shift.
La Sainte Union is a solidly performing Catholic secondary where academic expectations are clear, pastoral care is genuine, and the performing arts represent genuine achievement rather than add-ons. Girls feel safe and respected, their teachers know them as individuals, and the campus offers space to think and breathe. The school sits comfortably in London's middle tier of state secondaries — not chasing league table supremacy, but delivering competent, balanced education with particular strength in drama, music and enrichment.
Best suited to Catholic families for whom faith integration matters, or non-Catholic families willing to support a faith ethos. Also ideal for pupils with genuine passion for drama, music or languages — the school creates serious pathways in these areas. Most successful when families value broad education over pure academic ranking, and when girls themselves respond to community values and the expectation of service.
The main barrier is entry; once inside, the experience is genuinely supportive and intellectually honest.
Yes. The school was rated Good in all five categories by Ofsted in December 2024. Academic results are solid rather than exceptional, with Attainment 8 scores matching the England average and Progress 8 indicating above-average progress for the cohort. The school excels in performing arts, pastoral care and enrichment, with particular strength in drama and music. It ranks in the middle tier nationally for both GCSE and A-level attainment.
La Sainte Union is a voluntary-aided Catholic secondary. Admissions are coordinated by Camden Local Authority for Year 7. The school is heavily oversubscribed, with approximately 4 applications for every place. Catholic families with documented practising status receive priority; non-Catholic families face tighter odds. Eighteen places annually go to pupils with musical aptitude. After looked-after children and those with EHCPs, allocation is by faith then distance. Entry to the sixth form (LaSWAP Consortium) is open to all faiths and genders, typically requiring grade 5 in GCSE Maths and English.
The school has a genuine Catholic ethos including daily prayers, a weekly Mass, and a structured retreat programme. Students told inspectors the school embodies Catholic values lived out through service and justice. Non-Catholic girls are welcomed and successfully integrated; the school explicitly supports girls of other faiths or no faith, with interfaith dialogue embedded in the religious education curriculum. Families uncomfortable with Catholic practice should discuss expectations before applying.
The school produces one to two major full-school productions annually with professional-level repertoire from Shakespeare to contemporary musicals. Year 10 GCSE Drama pupils perform in local theatres rather than school halls. The school choir tours European cathedrals every other year. All Year 9 pupils complete a Trinity College Speech and Drama exam, funded by school, with over 50% achieving Distinctions. The Donmar Warehouse partnership provides bespoke workshops and West End access. These are serious, achievement-focused pathways, not peripheral activities.
Pupils with special educational needs are supported through early identification and carefully sequenced learning. About 1% of the school roll has Education, Health and Care Plans. The school's published Local Offer details provision including small group and one-to-one support, and links with external services for assessments. Staff training in trauma-informed practice and differentiation is ongoing. Progress is tracked against individual EHCP targets alongside whole-cohort benchmarks.
The sixth form is delivered through the LaSWAP Consortium, a partnership of four north London schools offering approximately 42 A-level and vocational courses. Entry is open to all faiths and genders, requiring typically grade 5 in Maths and English. In 2024, 61% of leavers progressed to university, 4% to further education, and 4% to apprenticeships. A dedicated Careers Support Manager and award-winning careers programme guide students toward university, apprenticeships, or direct employment. Sixth form students benefit from induction focused on metacognition and independent learning.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
