Coloma Convent Girls' School Review 2026: Catholic secondary with a strong Progress 8 and a busy sixth form

Academic progress is a clear headline here. The school’s Progress 8 score of +0.52 indicates students make substantially above-average progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It is also competitive locally, ranked 10th in Croydon for GCSE outcomes in the FindMySchool ranking (based on official data).

The most recent graded Ofsted inspection (published 26 January 2022, for the predecessor school prior to academy conversion) judged the school Requires Improvement overall, with Good judgements for behaviour and personal development, and Good in the sixth form.

Coloma is a girls’ school with a Roman Catholic character and a sixth form. It sits within a Catholic academy trust structure and continues a long-established faith-based ethos.

Coloma’s identity is strongly values-led. The Catholic character is not a light-touch label; it is integrated into daily routines, including prayer or reflection within lesson time, as described in school materials.

The inspection narrative describes pupils who feel safe and enjoy school, alongside a culture of politeness and hard work. Behaviour is presented as settled, with lessons rarely disrupted, and with a renewed focus on preventing and addressing bullying, including sixth form students trained to support younger pupils as part of the anti-bullying strategy.

Another distinctive element is the school’s emphasis on belonging and identity in a diverse community. Official inspection evidence highlights events such as Diversity Week and sixth form leadership around Black History Month, with students contributing to assemblies and wider school messaging.

Leadership is currently under Mrs Danielle Bumford-Sinclair (listed as headteacher/principal on the Department for Education’s Get Information About Schools service). Publicly available sources accessed for this review do not consistently state an appointment date, so families who want a precise start date should confirm directly.

Coloma’s GCSE outcomes sit in a strong position on the FindMySchool measure. Ranked 918th in England and 10th in Croydon for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), it sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

At GCSE level, the school’s Attainment 8 score is 56.7. Progress is the sharper signal: a Progress 8 score of +0.52 indicates students typically achieve well above expectations compared with pupils nationally who had similar starting points.

Top-end GCSE grades are present but not dominant, which is typical for a comprehensive intake rather than a selective one. The proportion achieving grades 9 to 8 is 17.9%, while 33.2% achieved grades 9 to 7.

EBacc outcomes suggest a solid academic core, with 41.4% achieving grade 5 or above in the EBacc and an EBacc average point score of 5.24.

Sixth form outcomes are more mid-range on the FindMySchool measure. Ranked 1,047th in England and 10th in Croydon for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking, based on official data), it reflects solid performance, in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).

Grade distribution at A-level shows 53.08% of grades at A* to B, with 5.38% at A* and 18.72% at A.

Parents comparing local performance may find it useful to use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to review GCSE and sixth form measures side-by-side with nearby alternatives.

Inspection evidence provides a useful explanation for the school’s mixed headline picture: strong academic progress overall, but inconsistency in day-to-day classroom experience across subjects. Curriculum plans are described as ambitious, but the report points to uneven translation into classroom practice, especially around sequencing, activity choice, and the systematic checking of understanding.

A particularly practical point for families is the finding that in Years 7 and 8 some work was too easy, with teachers sometimes underestimating what pupils already know and can do. The implication is straightforward: able pupils may need stretch to be delivered consistently across departments, not just in pockets.

There are also examples of targeted practice that many parents value. The report describes strengthened identification of special educational needs and/or disabilities, staff training in classroom strategies, and early identification of pupils who need help with reading on entry to Year 7, including structured reading groups focused on fluency, vocabulary and pronunciation.

In sixth form, the inspection describes stronger assessment practice and a more consistently academic approach, including teachers using strong subject knowledge and the exam specification well, plus wider reading and other materials to consolidate learning and build independence.

Where Students Go Next

Coloma’s sixth form exists in a competitive South London post-16 context, so outcomes are best viewed as a combination of academic results, guidance, and destination ambition.

Oxbridge application and acceptance data indicates a small but real pipeline. In the measured period, 17 students applied to Oxford or Cambridge combined, 4 secured offers, and 3 went on to accept places. This is not “Oxbridge factory” territory, but it is enough to signal that the school supports elite applications when the individual fit is right.

The academic culture in post-16 is also reflected in the inspection narrative around guidance and preparation for next steps. Careers education is described as detailed, covering vocational routes and apprenticeships alongside university applications.

Official school materials also describe an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) option and structured preparation for higher education, with enrichment and wider reading embedded in sixth form expectations.

Year 7 entry is coordinated by the local authority, with the statutory deadline for on-time applications set nationally at 31 October 2025 for September 2026 entry. Croydon’s published timeline shows applications opening in early September, National Offer Day on 2 March 2026, and the deadline to accept or refuse an offer on 16 March 2026.

Coloma’s published admissions arrangements set out a faith-priority framework, with places offered against oversubscription criteria when applications exceed 150. The policy also indicates that families applying under certain criteria may need to provide a Certificate of Catholic Practice, and that supporting documents should be submitted by the national closing date.

This is a school where families should plan early and be organised with paperwork. If you are unsure how close you are likely to be to the cut-off in a given year, tools such as FindMySchoolMap Search can help you sanity-check location and travel practicality before you commit to the application strategy.

For sixth form entry, the school historically runs open events in the autumn term and sets minimum GCSE requirements for different pathways. Exact dates change annually, so families should use the school’s published sixth form information as a guide to the process, then confirm the current year’s calendar directly.

Pastoral structures appear purposeful and student-facing. The inspection evidence describes pupils who feel safe, who know how to report concerns, and who see bullying as being taken more seriously than before, supported by a clearer school focus and sixth form involvement.

Personal development is described positively, including structured personal, social and health education covering online safety, relationships, and broader themes such as diversity. Students also have avenues to influence school life, with examples cited in the inspection report of policy changes shaped by pupil voice.

Safeguarding is described as effective, including strengthened systems, staff training on current guidance, and appropriate referral pathways.

Coloma’s extracurricular story is more specific than many local non-selective schools. Published school materials describe a high-participation music programme, including choirs and ensembles, alongside a wide range of instrumental tuition. The same materials list groups such as a jazz group and brass band, plus a structured choir offer that includes St Cecilia’s Singers, with large-scale performances also referenced.

There is also clear evidence of academic and student-development activity beyond lessons. Examples in school publications include Mathematical Mysteries, debating and public speaking, and structured leadership roles through school council and house-based responsibilities.

Sport is described as broad rather than narrow, with lacrosse and netball prominent, and additional clubs including dance, trampolining and basketball. The sixth form materials also describe compulsory Year 12 physical education options such as self-defence, aerobics and yoga, which can appeal to students who want variety rather than a single performance sport.

Service and charity work feature strongly, including a Saint Vincent de Paul Society reference in school materials and a pattern of fundraising activity in the inspection report.

School materials describe an official school day beginning at 8.15am and finishing at 3.05pm, divided into six 50-minute sessions. Families should treat this as a guide and confirm any updates, particularly if they are planning transport around clubs or sixth form study expectations.

Public transport access is a practical advantage, with school information referencing bus routes serving the site and additional routes within walking distance.

• Inspection judgement and improvement journey. The most recent graded Ofsted inspection (published 26 January 2022, for the predecessor school) rated the school Requires Improvement, with curriculum delivery and assessment consistency highlighted as areas to tighten. Families should ask how these priorities have been addressed since academy conversion.

• Catholic admissions paperwork. The published admissions arrangements indicate faith-priority criteria and supporting documentation expectations for some applicants. If you are applying on a faith basis, administration and deadlines matter.

• Sixth form: strong guidance, but outcomes are mid-range overall. A-level performance sits in the middle band nationally on the FindMySchool measure, so students should choose subjects strategically and use the school’s support structures fully, especially for competitive courses.

• Variation across subjects. Inspection evidence points to uneven classroom experience across departments, with some stronger practice in sixth form than lower years. It is sensible to ask how the school checks consistency across subjects and year groups.

Coloma Convent Girls’ School combines a clear Catholic ethos and strong student progress at GCSE with a busy co-curricular offer, particularly in music, leadership, and service. The key decision factor is fit with the school’s faith-based admissions framework and confidence in the improvement work since the most recent graded inspection. Best suited to families seeking a girls’ secondary with above-average academic progress, a structured pastoral culture, and a sixth form that supports both university and broader progression routes.