St Anne's Catholic High School for Girls Review 2026: Outstanding Education in the Heart of Enfield

In September 1994, two historic Catholic schools merged to create St Anne's, bringing together the legacy of Holy Family Convent School and St Angela's School for Girls. Three decades later, the school occupies two campuses across north London: the Lower School serves Years 7-9 from Enfield Town, while the Upper School in Palmers Green hosts sixth form students alongside fourth and fifth year pupils. This split-site configuration, spanning 3.5 miles, reflects a deliberate strategy to provide age-appropriate environments, from pastoral transition spaces to specialist sixth form facilities. The school ranks 663rd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 15% nationally and securing its position as the highest-performing non-selective school in Enfield. With just over 1,000 students, the school maintains a purposeful, inclusive atmosphere where Catholic values permeate daily life without alienating the substantial minority of non-Catholic families now enrolled.

Mrs Emma Loveland, who took the helm in November 2019, leads a school where the pastoral system remains central to identity. Each year group is divided into six houses, each with its own House Mistress, creating vertical structures that bind younger and older students. This model, alongside six tutor groups per year, ensures no student is lost in the numbers. The school motto, drawn from Micah 6:8, encapsulates the ethos: "Act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with your God." This is not merely ceremonial; students reference these values naturally in discussions of school behaviour and community responsibility.

The Catholic character is genuine and evident. Daily worship, regular Masses, and Religious Education as a compulsory GCSE subject for all ensure faith forms the fabric of school life. Yet the school's admission of non-Catholic families (now representing substantial minority enrollment in a 90% ethnically diverse cohort) signals an inclusive Catholic identity. Morning registration and assembly set the tone for a structured, values-driven day. School hours run 8:30am to 3:05pm, with a notable difference between the two sites: the Enfield Town campus houses younger pupils in a more intimate setting, while the Palmers Green location near the old Southgate Town Hall offers a more mature, sixth-form focused environment.

Behaviour is described as impeccable across recent inspection evidence. Students are polite, respectful, and engaged. The school does not "hot house" academically; instead, it focuses on helping each girl discover and develop her particular talents rather than forcing conformity to a predetermined mould.

GCSE Performance

At GCSE, St Anne's achieved a Progress 8 score of 0.65, well above the England average of 0. This indicates that pupils make substantially above-average progress between their primary school starting points and age 16. The Attainment 8 score of 58.2 reflects solid overall achievement across the eight-qualification framework.

The school ranks 663rd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it firmly in the top 15% of schools nationwide. Locally, it ranks 5th among Enfield secondaries, a remarkable achievement for a non-selective, non-grammar institution serving a diverse, urban community. The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) remains a focus, with 37% of pupils achieving grades 5 or above across the core humanities and language subjects, above the England average of around 30%.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form, newly enhanced with a modern dedicated centre, reflects the school's commitment to post-16 education. However, A-level outcomes lag slightly behind GCSE strengths. The school ranks 1912th in England for A-level results (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the lower-middle tier nationally. Nevertheless, 36% of students achieved grades A*-B, with 13% at A* and 13% at A grades. Subjects showing particular strength include modern foreign languages and sciences, reflecting the school's broader academic profile.

In 2024, the school recorded eight Oxbridge acceptances (one Cambridge, zero Oxford from the listed cohort), demonstrating that despite the sixth form's mixed profile, ambitious students do progress to the most competitive universities.

Teachers demonstrate strong subject knowledge and employ structured, clear teaching methods. The curriculum follows the national framework with notable extensions: French begins from Year 7, and high-ability students can pursue triple science rather than double. Option choices at GCSE include Art & Design, Graphic Products, Food Technology, Textiles, Spanish, French, Geography, History, Computer Science, Drama, and Musical Studies, providing genuine breadth.

Religious Education is compulsory through to GCSE and A-level, reflecting the school's Catholic mission. The integration of faith perspectives across subjects is systematic rather than ad hoc. Teaching is observed to be rigorous, with staff benefiting from excellent professional development and strong subject expertise across departments. The new sixth form centre has added essential learning space for post-16 study.

In 2024, 78% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with an additional 1% to further education and small numbers to apprenticeships or employment. The Progress 8 score of 0.65 at GCSE suggests strong foundations for post-secondary success. Beyond the immediate statistics, the school's recent achievement of 1 Oxbridge acceptance signals that despite non-selective intake, students here compete successfully for the most selective institutions.

The school provides exemplary transition planning, with formal careers education and guidance rated as high quality. Support for post-16 progression is meticulous, enabling students to navigate options confidently.

Music: A Defining Strength

The Gospel Choir stands as the school's flagship ensemble. Award-winning and composed of students from all year groups, the choir reached the semi-final of the BBC's Songs of Praise competition in 2018, performing regularly for both school events and public audiences. This is no peripheral activity; it represents the school's heartfelt integration of music and faith. The choir rehearses every Monday from 3:30-5:00pm, open to all students regardless of prior experience.

Beyond the Gospel Choir, the music programme has expanded significantly post-COVID. Band Club, Guitar Club, and Mass and Event Choir provide additional ensemble opportunities. Clubs in active development include a School Ensemble, Keyboards Club, Music Theory Club, and Ukulele Club, ensuring multiple entry points for students with varying instrumental experience. Enfield Music Service provides instrumental and vocal lessons during school hours, supporting those pursuing formal qualifications.

Sports: Comprehensive and Competitive

Physical education at St Anne's is underpinned by a philosophy of lifetime wellness rather than elite achievement alone. The school offers recreational activities before school, during lunch, and after school in sports including netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, football, cricket, table tennis, basketball, and fitness. This breadth ensures girls with diverse athletic interests can participate.

Competitive sports are strong. Students represent the school at netball, football, and athletics. The school maintains formal partnerships with Enfield Ignatians Rugby Club and Palmers Green netball Club, facilitating elite pathways for those showing aptitude. A residential netball camp to Spain demonstrates commitment to competitive development. Coach Dan oversees an extensive tennis programme, with an Academy Group for those showing serious commitment. Volleyball and hockey provide additional options, reflecting a sporting culture rooted in the school's historical tradition.

Drama: Accessible and Ambitious

Drama club provides performance opportunities for students at all levels. The curriculum explores Shakespeare, Commedia dell'arte, and mime, building confidence through characterisation, vocalisation, and movement work. At GCSE and A-level, drama becomes increasingly technical, with devised performance components and critical analysis of live theatre. The school organises theatre trips to support examination study. Talent evenings and school productions provide regular performance platforms.

Co-Curricular Breadth

The school supports a wide range of clubs and activities, many staff-led and some delivered by external approved organisations. Homework Club and library support operate every evening on both sites. A Jack Petchey recognition scheme celebrates students nominated for achievement in academics, charity work, friendship, and event organisation. The breadth of extracurricular provision reflects the school's values-driven approach: students are encouraged to develop skills and confidence in structured, purposeful ways.

St Anne's operates as a non-selective Catholic comprehensive within the Archdiocese of Westminster. The school admits 180 pupils to Year 7 annually, with applications through the standard Enfield admissions process coordinated by the local authority.

Year 7 entry is significantly oversubscribed. In 2024, applications numbered 447 against 179 offers, reflecting a 2.5:1 ratio. Demand exceeds supply substantially. After looked-after children and those with Education, Health and Care Plans naming the school, places are allocated according to the admissions criteria. Catholic pupils receive priority, but non-Catholic families are admitted when places remain.

The sixth form, expanded with new facilities, accepts both internal progression from Year 11 and external students. All Year 7 entrants are integrated; the school works to ensure smooth transition between lower and upper sites. In-year admissions outside the standard entry point require Local Authority coordination and are assessed on a case-by-case basis according to published oversubscription criteria.

The pastoral system, organised around six houses per year group, provides consistent adult relationships. Each house has a dedicated House Mistress; students remain within the same house throughout their time at the school, building continuity and belonging. Form tutors within each house provide immediate academic and pastoral oversight. This vertical structure means younger students benefit from older mentors.

The school's Catholic ethos underpins approach to wellbeing. Chaplaincy support is integrated, with regular Masses and prayer time scheduled. Students are supported to understand their responsibilities both to their immediate community and to wider society. The school takes seriously its duty to challenge injustice and support those in need, explicitly teaching students to consider their obligations to local and global communities.

Specialist support is available for students with special educational needs. Funding is deployed effectively, with a structured approach to identifying and supporting those requiring additional help. A designated safeguarding lead and formal safeguarding structures ensure student welfare is prioritised. Almost all parents report satisfaction with behaviour management and school responsiveness to concerns.

School operates from 8:30am to 3:05pm, Monday through Friday (32.5 hours per week). Reception opens from 8:00am to 4:30pm daily to accommodate family schedules.

The school spans two sites with approximately 3.5 miles between them. Both locations are well-served by London buses. The Upper School (sixth form, Years 10-11) is based at 6 Oakthorpe Road, Palmers Green, N13 5TY, near the old Southgate Town Hall. The Lower School (Years 7-9) operates from 50 London Road, Enfield, EN2 6EL. Public transport links are excellent from both locations; families should verify bus routes and journey times specific to their postcode.

Oversubscribed entry: Year 7 admission is highly competitive at 2.5 applications per place. Families should not assume distance alone guarantees a place. The school's popularity reflects its reputation, but Catholic families receive priority according to published admissions criteria. Non-Catholic families should understand the priority order before applying.

Split-site model: Attending two separate campuses across 3.5 miles is operationally efficient but has implications. Years 7-9 benefit from a contained environment; Years 10-13 have access to sixth-form specific facilities. However, students transfer sites mid-secondary, requiring adjustment. The journey between sites takes time; some students experience logistical complexity.

A-level breadth: The sixth form is notably smaller than comparable institutions, reflecting the school's non-selective Year 7 intake. The A-level performance lags GCSE strength, suggesting stronger lower school achievement than post-16 outcomes. Families aspiring to Russell Group or Oxbridge places should scrutinise sixth form results carefully. That said, high-achieving students do access top universities, and the new sixth form centre reflects recent investment.

Faith commitment expected: The school's Catholic character is genuine and pervasive. Daily prayer, regular Masses, and compulsory Religious Education as a GCSE subject are fundamental, not peripheral. Families uncomfortable with active religious observance should consider whether the school aligns with their preferences, even though non-Catholic students are admitted.

St Anne's offers first-class education delivered within an authentically Catholic framework, non-selective in intake yet ranking in England's top 15% at GCSE. The split-site model works; the pastoral system is strong; and teachers are dedicated and knowledgeable. For families seeking an academically rigorous school rooted in explicit values and community, with strong GCSE outcomes and genuine spiritual life, St Anne's delivers. The school suits families — both Catholic and non-Catholic — who value breadth alongside academic ambition, and who appreciate a school where faith and education are openly integrated. Admission is competitive; oversubscription reflects the school's genuine strength.