St Francis Xavier School - a Joint Catholic and Church of England Voluntary Academy Review 2026: High-expectation secondary with standout progress

On FindMySchool’s GCSE outcomes ranking, the school is ranked 874th in England and 1st in Richmond, placing it comfortably above the England average and within the top 25% of secondary schools in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data).

The headline GCSE indicators reinforce that picture. In 2024, the school’s Attainment 8 score was 56.4, with an EBacc points score of 5.03. Progress 8 was 1.01, a level that implies students, on average, achieve around a grade higher per subject than expected from their starting points.

A few additional measures help parents triangulate fit. The school reports 53% achieving grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 51.3% entering the EBacc in 2024. These figures matter because they indicate both baseline competence in core subjects and the extent to which students are taking the academically broad EBacc route.

The daily structure is deliberately consistent. Students have 25 minutes of form time each day, then five one-hour lessons. This creates long teaching blocks that suit subjects requiring sustained explanation, extended writing, or practical sequences in specialist rooms.

Curriculum intent is reinforced with practical enrichment that sits close to subject learning. Geography students have had opportunities that connect physical geography to real-world environments, including an Iceland visit referenced in external review material. That kind of trip works best when classroom teaching is strong enough that students arrive with the knowledge to interpret what they are seeing.

At the academic support end, the school runs a defined after-school revision slot for Key Stage 4 using a Pomodoro approach, alongside lunchtime study spaces for both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. For families with students who benefit from structure rather than open-ended study time, this is a helpful practical signal.

Because the school finishes at 16, the key question is not whether students go on, it is where and how well prepared they are. The school reports that 98% of pupils stayed in education or employment (2022), which is a broad, reassuring indicator for post-16 progression even though it does not specify destinations by institution or course.

The careers and guidance message in external review material aligns with that, emphasising that students leave with a strong platform for education, employment or training. In practical terms, families should expect most students to progress to local sixth forms and colleges, with routes spanning A-level programmes, technical qualifications, and apprenticeships.

Year 7 entry is coordinated through North Yorkshire, with an additional requirement specific to the school. Families apply via the local authority process and also complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form, which supports faith-based oversubscription criteria where applicable (for example, supporting evidence such as baptism or christening documentation).

For September 2026 entry, the school states it will accept Year 7 applications from 01 September 2025 to 31 October 2025. North Yorkshire’s coordinated secondary application round lists 12 September 2025 as the opening date, with the same closing deadline of 31 October 2025. Treat the local authority dates as the definitive timeline for the coordinated application, and complete the school’s supplementary steps within that window.

North Yorkshire confirms National Offer Day for secondary school places as 02 March 2026. That is the date families should plan around for decisions, waiting list movement, and appeal preparation if needed.

Parents weighing options against catchment and travel should use FindMySchoolMap Search to check practical journey reality alongside admissions criteria, particularly if you are balancing more than one faith or community option in the area.

Pastoral systems are intentionally tutor-led. Each student sits in a form group with the form tutor positioned as the first line of support, with escalation to Heads of Year and a Pastoral Support Officer when needed. The model is designed to keep support close to daily routines rather than separate it into a detached service.

Wellbeing support is described in concrete terms. The school hosts a Wellbeing in Mind Team described as NHS staff working with schools, including an Education Mental Health Practitioner and an Occupational Therapist, supporting needs such as low mood, anxiety, worry, and stress. This will matter most to families seeking early, accessible help rather than a long referral chain.

Safeguarding information is straightforward: students are taught to raise concerns through tutors and the pastoral team, and online safety is taught through the curriculum, form time and assemblies.

Extracurricular life is strongest where it directly extends academic identity, communication, and service.

Oracy and confidence

Debate Club is structured around formal debate, with participation in wider events such as the Catenian Public Speaking Competition. This is a clear example of an activity that develops transferable skills, not only confidence on the day but the ability to reason, structure argument, and listen under pressure.

Computing and applied STEM

The computing clubs list is unusually specific: Photoshop club, Minecraft club, a Key Stage 4 coding club, the Bebras computational thinking competition, and an OUCC challenge linked to Bebras winners. That breadth matters because it caters both to students who enjoy creative digital production and those who prefer problem-solving competition formats.

Humanities and culture

History Club is framed around local history, supported by guest speakers connected to Richmond Castle research and the Green Howards Museum. Italian Club exists because of student demand and builds simple conversational language alongside cultural learning. These are not generic clubs, they signal a school that treats curiosity as something to organise and support.

Literacy culture

The library has had visible investment, and the reading culture is reinforced through an Accelerated Reader approach and a Millionaires Club for students who read over a million words in a year. That is a simple mechanism, but it tends to work well when staff reinforce it consistently across year groups.

Service and fundraising

The school describes pupils raising funds connected to an overseas Kenya project, while Friends of SFX has funded practical enhancements such as table tennis tables and a main hall sound system. These are small details, but they show that the community contributes to daily student experience, not just to occasional headline events.

The school day runs from 08:55 to 15:30, with five one-hour lessons and a defined break and lunch structure.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. Families should still plan for standard secondary costs such as uniform, trips, and optional extras.

Transport is unusually explicit. The school operates four dedicated bus services and publishes daily pass rates for 2025/26: Zone A £4.45, Zone B £5.95, Zone C £6.20. For rural families, this is a meaningful planning detail, and the annual application deadline for bus passes can be as important as the admissions deadline.

• Faith-based admissions mechanics. Entry is not just the local authority application; the supplementary form and supporting evidence can be decisive within oversubscription criteria. Families should read the policy carefully and allow time to gather documentation.

• No sixth form. Students will need to choose a post-16 pathway after Year 11. For some families this is a positive reset; for others it means earlier planning and more travel.

• Transport planning. Dedicated buses help, but paid passes and deadlines introduce another administrative layer. If you miss the window, options can narrow quickly.

• Academic stretch can feel real. A Progress 8 score at this level tends to come with tight routines and high expectations. This suits many students; some will need careful balancing with wellbeing and workload habits.

For families who want a values-led secondary with strong academic momentum, this is a compelling option. The evidence points to calm conduct, consistent routines, and outcomes that sit comfortably above the England average, with particular strength in student progress. Best suited to students who respond well to structure, appreciate a Christian ethos, and want a school that treats enrichment as part of learning rather than a bolt-on. Admission and post-16 planning are the two main practical hurdles.