St Thomas More Catholic Comprehensive School Review 2026, Greenwich secondary with strong progress and a clear Catholic identity

A school can feel ambitious without feeling narrow. Here, the tone is purposeful, with a strong emphasis on behaviour for learning and a Catholic ethos that shapes daily expectations. The most recent Ofsted inspection judged the school as Good, with Outstanding judgements for Behaviour and attitudes and Personal development.

Academically, the data points to a school that helps students move forward from their starting points. A Progress 8 score of 0.74 is well above average, and the school’s GCSE outcomes place it 701st in England and 4th in Greenwich in the FindMySchool ranking, which is based on official performance data. The practical reality is that demand is high, and admission is shaped by faith criteria and, within categories, proximity.

The culture is rooted in a clear moral framework. Students are encouraged to take responsibility, contribute to the wider community, and take part in charity work that reflects the school’s Catholic mission. The school sits within a Catholic academy trust context, which matters for governance and strategy, but the day to day experience still reads as a conventional, structured 11–16 secondary.

External evaluation describes a calm and respectful climate, with students reporting that they feel safe and listened to. The school runs multiple student leadership committees, giving students formal routes to raise issues such as mental health, equality, and environmental priorities. This tends to suit families who value a school where expectations are explicit and consistently reinforced.

Leadership is stable and clearly identified. The 2022 inspection report names Stuart Sharp as headteacher. (A publicly available appointment record shows a related director appointment dated 02 September 2019, which may indicate the broad timing of the current leadership era, but families should rely on the school’s own confirmation for the exact start date in post.)

This is a school performing above the typical range for a comprehensive intake. The FindMySchool ranking places it 701st in England, which sits comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England, and 4th in Greenwich for GCSE outcomes. That positioning matters for parents benchmarking local options, and the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison view is the quickest way to line up results across nearby schools on a like for like basis.

The underlying GCSE measures support that picture. Attainment 8 is 62.5, indicating strong overall grades across the GCSE suite, and Progress 8 is 0.74, meaning students, on average, make substantially more progress than students nationally with similar starting points. The EBacc measures are more mixed. EBacc APS is 5.47, above the England average of 4.08, while 25.2% achieved grade 5 or above in the EBacc measure, which may reflect entry patterns as well as outcomes.

The implication is practical. Students who arrive with uneven prior attainment are likely to benefit from a school that is demonstrably adding value. High prior attainers can also do well here, but families should pay attention to subject depth and consistency across key stage 3, since this appears as an area leaders were asked to strengthen.

Curriculum ambition is a clear theme. Leaders have revised and refined curriculum plans in many subjects, with evidence of careful sequencing, so knowledge builds over time rather than being re-taught in disconnected units. Where teaching is at its strongest, staff use strong subject knowledge to explain clearly, check understanding, and close gaps before they widen.

The most important caveat is also specific. The inspection evidence indicates that some key stage 3 subjects were not always taught in sufficient depth, and that assessment expectations can vary between classrooms. That does not negate the overall strengths, but it does tell parents what to probe in an open evening conversation, for example, how the school ensures consistency across departments, and how key stage 3 prepares students for GCSE choices and pathways.

Support for students with SEND is described as effective, with students achieving well. Literacy is also treated as a whole-school priority, including targeted support, which is often a strong indicator of coherent classroom practice across subjects.

Where Students Go Next

As an 11–16 school, the main transition point is post-16 progression into sixth forms and colleges. The careers programme is described as comprehensive and aligned to requirements, including technical and apprenticeship pathways, which is important for families who want options beyond a purely academic narrative.

Students also receive structured enrichment that supports personal statements and interviews later on. A notable example is that all Year 9 students take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (Bronze), which can become a meaningful thread in applications for sixth form courses, scholarships, and competitive programmes.

Admission is competitive, and faith criteria are central. The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s secondary admissions booklet sets out the school’s priority order, beginning with pupils with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, then Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after children, then Catholic applicants ranked by practice and evidence, before other applicants are considered. Within categories, distance is used as a tie-break, and a supplementary information form is required for applicants applying under faith criteria.

Demand is high. The Greenwich booklet records 124 places available and 554 applications for a recent entry cycle, which illustrates the level of competition parents should assume unless local patterns change.

For September 2026 entry (Year 7), the local authority timetable is clear and should be treated as the default planning framework for families living in Greenwich: applications open 01 September 2025, close 31 October 2025, and results are published 02 March 2026, with acceptance closing 16 March 2026.

Families can use FindMySchoolMap Search to check precise home to school distance, but for this school, distance only becomes decisive within the relevant oversubscription category.

Pastoral strength is one of the school’s headline features. The latest inspection found behaviour to be exemplary, with high attendance and punctuality, and students focusing diligently in lessons. Safeguarding is described as effective, with a culture built on vigilance and professional curiosity.

Personal development is also a structured priority. Students learn about staying safe, health and relationships, and take part in enrichment that supports resilience and responsibility. The leadership committee structure gives students visible agency, which can be particularly helpful for families who want school to build confidence and voice, not just exam outcomes.

The extracurricular picture is unusually specific for a mainstream 11–16 school, which is a positive sign that participation is planned rather than left to chance. Examples referenced in official evaluation include choir, table tennis, cross-stitch, board games, craft club, book club, investment activities, and mindfulness colouring. Leaders monitor participation and actively ensure disadvantaged students and students with SEND benefit from the offer.

The value here is not the existence of clubs in isolation, it is the social and developmental effect. A student who joins choir or book club gains a smaller community within the wider year group. A student who tries investment or board games is practising decision-making and reasoning in a lower-stakes environment than a test. Combined with the Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh expectation, the message to students is consistent, contribute, show up, and build habits that compound over time.

This is a state school, there are no tuition fees. Families should still budget for the normal secondary extras, including uniform, optional trips, and any music tuition where applicable.

Published start and finish times are not consistently available via the sources accessible for this review, so parents should confirm the school day structure directly with the school. For travel, the site is in Eltham, and local public transport and walking routes tend to be the practical default for many families in the area.

• Faith-based admission reality. Catholic practice and evidence can be decisive in oversubscription. Families who are not practising Catholics should treat admission as uncertain and plan a realistic set of preferences.

• Key stage 3 depth. External evaluation highlighted that some subjects were not always taught in sufficient depth in Years 7 and 8. Ask how curriculum depth is being strengthened and how this feeds into GCSE readiness.

• Consistency of classroom expectations. Teaching quality is generally strong, but assessment and expectations were not always consistent. For some students, consistency is the difference between confidence and drift.

• Post-16 transition at 16. With no sixth form on site, every student navigates a change at the end of Year 11. For many, this is positive, but some students benefit from continuity, so consider how your child handles transition.

A high-expectations Greenwich comprehensive with a strong Catholic identity, above-average progress, and an unusually well-defined personal development offer. It suits families who want clear standards, a structured approach to behaviour, and an ethos-led environment that takes students’ formation seriously as well as their grades. The primary hurdle is admissions competitiveness, especially for families outside the core faith categories.