Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School

Nearly a century of Catholic education unfolds within the Gothic-style walls of Hill Place, where the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary established this school in 1927. Today, Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School stands as the highest-performing secondary school in Havering for GCSE outcomes, earning Outstanding ratings across all five Ofsted categories in October 2024. Located in Upminster on the eastern edge of Greater London, this all-girls Catholic academy serves approximately 830 students aged 11 to 18, combining academic rigour with the strong family ethos inherited from its founding sisters.

The school occupies a distinctive site steeped in history. Hill Place, originally built as part of the Gaynes estate in the 18th century, was reconstructed in the Gothic style between 1871 and 1873 by architect William Gibbs Bartlett before being acquired by the RSHM sisters in 1927. The present school building dates from 1930, standing alongside remnants of the original convent structure. An Old Chapel remains on site, a tangible link to the school's religious foundations.

The atmosphere carries what inspectors described as a profound sense of being a warm and welcoming family. Students perform exceptionally well in their studies and develop confidence and resilience within this supportive framework. The Catholic identity permeates daily life through religious education, Mass of Remembrance, annual prize-giving ceremonies with significant musical contributions, and ongoing connections to the Diocese of Brentwood, which has rated the school Outstanding in its Section 48 inspections on three occasions.

Ms Vivienne Qurrey leads the school as Headteacher. Under her leadership, the school continues to build on its enviable reputation, maintaining the Outstanding designation that has characterised successive inspections. Staff turnover appears low, and the community benefits from a settled leadership team that understands the school's distinctive Catholic character.

The house system creates vertical communities within the larger school, generating healthy competition through Inter-House events spanning music, drama, sport, cooking challenges, and reading competitions. Hundreds of students participate annually, building connections across year groups while developing skills beyond the academic curriculum.

Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School achieves results that place it firmly in the top quarter of secondary schools in England. The school ranks 522nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it above the England average and within the top 25% of all schools. Locally, it ranks 1st among secondary schools in Havering, outperforming all other provision in the borough.

The Attainment 8 score of 62.3 significantly exceeds the England average of 45.9, demonstrating consistently strong performance across the eight qualifying subjects. Progress 8 of +0.71 indicates that students make substantially more progress than similar students elsewhere, adding approximately three-quarters of a grade across each subject compared to their peers nationally.

The EBacc entry rate shows 41.3% of students achieving grades 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate subjects, with an EBacc average point score of 5.68 against the England average of 4.08. These figures reflect a curriculum that successfully balances academic breadth with depth.

Sixth Form Performance

A-level results place the sixth form in the middle 35% of providers in England (25th to 60th percentile), ranking 805th nationally and 2nd in Havering. Performance is solid rather than exceptional at this level. Approximately 57% of entries achieved A*-B grades, above the England average of 47.2%, with 26.3% securing A*-A grades compared to the England average of 23.6%.

The gap between GCSE performance (top 25% in England) and A-level outcomes (middle tier) warrants consideration. Students progressing from Year 11 into the sixth form should be aware that the transition involves increased competition and independence.

The curriculum follows an ambitious and broad model that Ofsted identified as adapted so that students with special educational needs and disabilities can achieve highly. From Year 7, students study a comprehensive range including English, Mathematics, Science, Religious Education, History, Geography, French, Italian, Music, Art, Drama, Technology, Computing, and PHRSE across 60 periods per fortnight.

At GCSE, students take compulsory Religious Studies, English Language and Literature, Mathematics, and Science (with the option to pursue separate sciences). The options system requires at least one modern foreign language from French or Italian, alongside three further choices from Art, Business Studies, Child Development, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Geography, History, or Music.

Sixth form provision includes traditional A-levels in Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computing, Economics, English Literature, Film Studies, French, Geography, History, Italian, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Theatre Studies. The Extended Project Qualification and vocational routes through BTEC Business and Cambridge National in Health and Social Care provide alternatives to purely academic pathways.

Teaching quality is strong, with staff maintaining high expectations and clear explanations. Religious education runs throughout the curriculum, integrated into the Catholic character of the institution rather than confined to discrete lessons.

In 2024, 56% of Year 13 leavers progressed to university, with 11% securing apprenticeships and 24% entering employment. One student gained a place at Cambridge University during the most recent admissions cycle, demonstrating that elite destinations remain achievable for the most able.

The school provides dedicated guidance for university applications and apprenticeship routes through its Year 13 Next Steps programme. Students can access careers advice alongside preparation for UCAS applications, interviews, and personal statements. The destinations profile suggests a pragmatic approach to post-18 pathways, with students pursuing routes aligned to their individual strengths rather than a singular focus on highly selective universities.

For students in Year 11, the school provides information about local alternatives for those not continuing into the sixth form, though the majority appear to progress internally given the integrated nature of the 11-18 campus.

Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School serves the Catholic community of the Havering deanery. The standard Published Admission Number for Year 7 is 119 places. Demand significantly exceeds supply, with 399 applications for 119 places indicating approximately 3.35 applicants per place. This makes Sacred Heart of Mary one of the most oversubscribed Catholic schools in the area.

Admissions are coordinated through the Havering School Admissions Team, requiring both the local authority common application form and the school's Supplementary Information Form (SIF). The SIF allows the Governing Body to assess applications against the faith-based admissions criteria. Catholic families will need to provide appropriate documentation, typically including a Certificate of Catholic Practice from their parish priest confirming regular Mass attendance.

For 2026 Year 7 entry, the application deadline is 30 January 2026. Families should note that alongside the standard local authority deadline in October, the school's SIF has its own submission requirements. The school typically holds information evenings in the autumn term for prospective parents, though specific dates should be confirmed directly with the school.

Sixth form admissions follow a separate process with the same deadline of 30 January 2026 for 2026 entry. External applicants are welcome, though they will need to meet the academic entry requirements for their chosen A-level subjects.

The faith commitment expected of applicants is genuine. This is a Catholic school within the Diocese of Brentwood, and the religious character shapes every aspect of school life. Families uncomfortable with regular prayer, religious education, and Catholic worship should consider whether this environment suits their daughter.

The pastoral system operates through the house structure and form groups, providing multiple layers of support. Students develop confidence and resilience within what inspectors described as an environment where personal development is outstanding.

The school prioritises the whole child, with attention to spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development alongside academic progress. Religious retreats, faith formation opportunities, and connections to the Brentwood Catholic Youth Service (BCYS) extend pastoral support beyond the purely academic. The Chaplaincy Team maintains the spiritual life of the school, providing a resource for students seeking guidance or support rooted in the Catholic faith.

Students with special educational needs and disabilities receive curriculum adaptations that enable high achievement. The school's approach ensures that these students can access the ambitious curriculum rather than receiving a diluted alternative.

The Ofsted inspection highlighted behaviour and attitudes as Outstanding. Students conduct themselves well, creating a calm and purposeful learning environment. The school's expectations are clear, and students appear to meet them consistently.

The extracurricular programme is exceptional, with Ofsted noting an exceptional offer beyond the academic that parents and carers highly value. Opportunities span creative arts, sport, academic enrichment, and personal development.

Music

The creative arts hold a high profile. Multiple choirs, bands, ensembles, and orchestras rehearse throughout the week. Formal and informal concerts punctuate the academic year, culminating in significant musical contributions to the annual Prize-giving Ceremony and Mass of Remembrance. Instrumental tuition covers strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, and singing, enabling students to develop specialist skills alongside their academic studies.

Drama

The annual major production involves large numbers of students, providing performance opportunities beyond the examined curriculum. The Inter-House drama competition creates additional platforms for theatrical work, with house groups competing across year groups.

Sport

Sport has a strong tradition, with matches and events held after school and at weekends. All students are encouraged to represent the school, building team identity and physical confidence. The Inter-House competitions extend sporting opportunities to those not on school teams, ensuring broad participation rather than elite-only provision.

Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme runs at Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels. Participants develop skills through community volunteering, personal challenges, and expeditions. This programme builds independence and resilience while contributing to the local community.

Trips and Visits

The international trip programme is extensive. Geography students travel to Iceland or Norway. History trips visit Poland to engage with Holocaust memorial sites. Art students experience Paris galleries. Modern Foreign Languages offers work experience in Italy, building practical language skills. The Ecology trip to Zanzibar with Global Action combines environmental education with international awareness. Theatre visits, gallery trips, and museum excursions complement classroom learning throughout the year.

Clubs and Enrichment

The Gardening Club grows fruit and vegetables on site. The Film Club allows Key Stage 3 students to vote on films and develop critical viewing skills. Library lunchtime activities provide quieter social options. House competitions in cooking and reading challenges add further variety to the enrichment diet.

The school day follows standard secondary patterns, with Year 7 and Year 12 students starting at 8:45am. After-school clubs and sporting fixtures extend the day for those participating. The site on St Mary's Lane benefits from proximity to Upminster station (District Line and c2c services), providing reasonable transport links for students travelling from across the Havering deanery and beyond.

Parents seeking wrap-around care should note that this is a secondary school without primary provision, so breakfast and after-school clubs operate in the context of extracurricular activities rather than childcare. Students are expected to manage their own travel and attendance appropriate to their age.

Faith commitment required. This is a genuinely Catholic school where faith shapes daily life. Morning prayer, religious education, Mass, and retreats feature regularly. Families seeking a secular environment with incidental religious content should look elsewhere. The school serves the Diocese of Brentwood and expects families to share its Catholic values.

Highly competitive admissions. With 3.35 applications per place, securing entry requires meeting the faith criteria and living within the deanery. The Supplementary Information Form and Certificate of Catholic Practice are essential. Families without regular parish connections face significant disadvantage in the oversubscription process.

Single-sex environment. This is a girls-only school at every level, including sixth form. Students seeking co-educational provision will need to look at local alternatives. The single-sex model appears to serve students well academically, but families should consider whether this environment suits their daughter's social development preferences.

A-level performance gap. GCSE results rank in the top 25% in England; A-level outcomes sit in the middle band. Students and families should consider this difference when evaluating sixth form options. The school provides solid post-16 education, but students seeking the highest A-level results may wish to compare with alternative providers.

Sacred Heart of Mary Girls' School delivers exceptional outcomes within a distinctive Catholic framework. The combination of academic rigour, strong pastoral support, and rich extracurricular provision creates an environment where students flourish. Results speak clearly, with Havering's top GCSE performance and Outstanding ratings across all Ofsted categories in 2024.

Best suited to Catholic families in the Havering deanery who want their daughter educated within a faith-based community that takes both academic achievement and spiritual development seriously. The warm family atmosphere inherited from the founding sisters persists nearly a century later, providing continuity of purpose that few schools can match.

The main challenge is securing a place. Families committed to Catholic education who can demonstrate parish involvement will find this school rewards that commitment with outstanding education. For those who gain entry, the experience combines academic success with the confidence and resilience that inspectors highlighted.