St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking Review 2026: State-Funded Excellence with Catholic Foundation

Inside Woking's suburbs, St John the Baptist School maintains the rare combination of strong Catholic ethos and inclusive community education. The February 2025 Ofsted inspection awarded Outstanding grades across every measure. Approaching 1,540 students from across the Woking Deanery parishes, the school has earned recognition as one of the first hundred Teaching Schools in England, with staff now leading development programmes across the region. Academic outcomes place the school in the top 25% nationally for both GCSE and A-level results, achieved without selection by ability. The five-campus setting — with separate sixth form — offers specialist facilities from green-screen studios to a mirrored dance studio, supporting breadth that extends far beyond the classroom.

You enter St John the Baptist through gates that open onto a school visibly shaped by decades of Catholic mission. The chapel stands as the spiritual heart, with weekly Mass and prayer groups that permeate daily life without excluding students of other faiths. Prospective sixth formers are welcomed; the school asks only that they embrace and respect its Catholic identity, not necessarily share it.

James Granville Hamshar leads the school as headteacher. Under his tenure, alongside committed middle leadership, the school has held fast to the principle that academic rigour and pastoral care must coexist. Student voice carries weight. Year 12 and 13 pupils describe leadership opportunities — hosting clubs, standing as head boy or head girl, sitting on the sixth form committee — that extend genuinely beyond ceremony.

The atmosphere is purposeful without harshness. Teachers discuss their work with evident passion. Absence rates (6% in 2022-23) significantly undercut both local authority and national averages, suggesting students actually want to be here. A cashless catering system (Scopay, with biometric access) keeps the school running smoothly and fairly, removing the stigma sometimes attached to free school meals payments.

GCSE Performance

The school ranks 486th in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it comfortably within the top 25% nationally. At GCSE 2024, 27% of entries graded at 9-8, and 46% achieved grades 9-7. The Attainment 8 score of 60.6 reflects solid progress from students' starting points. Progress 8 of +0.73 indicates pupils make meaningfully above-average progress compared to peers nationally who began at similar attainment levels.

Nearly half of entries (49%) saw pupils achieve grades 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate, demonstrating breadth across sciences, languages, and humanities. These metrics place the school among the strongest state comprehensives in Surrey.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form ranks 382nd in England (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 15% for post-16 education. A-level outcomes reinforce academic strength: 69% of grades land at A*-B, with 14% achieving A* and 28% A. Entry cohorts are broad rather than selective, yet outcomes rival those of grammar schools in the region. The school welcomes external sixth form applicants alongside internal progressors, creating a genuinely mixed peer group.

In the 2023-24 cohort, 56% of leavers progressed to university, with 28% entering direct employment and 5% apprenticeships. The school does not publish detailed Oxbridge or Russell Group breakdowns on its main website, though the academic rigour evident in A-level outcomes suggests destinations centre on research-led universities.

The curriculum follows the National Framework but with deliberate breadth. All students engage with science separately (not combined), languages from Year 7, and humanities alongside STEM. The school embraces technology as pedagogy: every student receives an iPad, and the school holds Apple Distinguished School status. In-house app development means IT infrastructure serves learning rather than merely enabling it.

Subject specialists teaching their disciplines underscore the comprehensive model — Latin, Further Maths, Psychology, and Health and Social Care sit alongside core GCSEs. Sixth form offers a genuine 30+ subject range, allowing real specialisation. Teaching quality, reflected in Ofsted's Outstanding judgement for Quality of Education, rests on clear structures, high expectations, and staff who know their students as individuals.

The Catholic character is woven through teaching, not bolted on. Year 10 pupils study world religions respectfully; Religious Studies GCSE incorporates Catholic theology and ethics. Weekly Spiritual Development sessions for sixth formers offer space for reflection without compulsion. The Lourdes Pilgrimage — where sixth formers volunteer as helpers — becomes a formative experience for many.

The extracurricular programme spans sport, music, drama, and enrichment. The school operates across two campuses with dedicated sixth form facilities, allowing genuine separation between main school and post-16 study.

Sports: Structure and Success

Sport operates at three tiers: recreational (all welcome), competitive (inter-house and district level), and elite (Sixth Form Sports Academy). The latter, launched with professional coaching from Chobham Rugby Club, Woking Blackhawks, and Woking Cardinals, provides structured training Friday mornings alongside competitive fixtures Wednesday afternoons. Academy students receive personalised fitness programmes from Advanced Sport, supporting the vision of local, regional, and national competition success.

Specific fixtures and league achievements validate this approach: Netball teams won Woking District League (Year 8 and 9), progressing to Surrey finals; Year 9 finished 4th in Surrey competition. Rugby Year 7 won the Chobham Woking District Tournament. Football and Basketball teams compete in district leagues with strong results. The school fields netball, rounders, and swimming teams, with Year 8 taking 1st place in the North West Surrey Swimming Gala.

Facilities supporting this breadth include grass rugby and football pitches, all-weather outdoor netball courts (up to 4), all-weather tennis courts (up to 4), badminton courts (up to 6), indoor cricket nets, futsal court, handball court, volleyball court, basketball court within the sports hall, mirrored dance studio, fitness suite with personalised programmes, and an athletics grass track. The breadth reflects a philosophy: competitive sport for the talented, accessible sport for all.

Music and Ensembles

Music follows a similar inclusive-to-elite structure. The school chapel hosts regular services with congregational singing and specialist choral participation. The school runs ensembles and ensemble coaching through dedicated practice rooms — many students study music privately and rehearse within school structures. Annual highlights include contributions to the School Show and performances at community events. Sixth formers lead ensemble activities, deepening their own musicianship.

Drama and Performance

Multiple drama studios and the school hall with stage enable simultaneous rehearsals and productions. The annual School Show provides showcase opportunity and draws participation across year groups. The green-screen room — a rare facility in state schools — enables digital media work, film study, and innovative theatrical use of technology. Sixth formers lead drama activities, supporting younger students' engagement.

Duke of Edinburgh

The school runs Bronze, Silver, and Gold programmes. Year 10 uptake targets universal Bronze participation. Expeditions follow standard DofE structure; the Silver expedition follows GCSE completion in July. Gold level (Year 12-13) requires residential, volunteering, and four-day expedition components. The award carries significant value for university and apprenticeship applications.

Clubs and Societies

The Avalon system gamifies participation, awarding house points and rewards for engagement in clubs. Years 7 and 8 are encouraged toward two weekly activities (one physical or outdoor); participation is tracked and celebrated. The school's location — a 15-minute walk from Woking train station — widens off-campus enrichment options for older students.

Specific clubs mentioned across research include Equestrian Team, Debate Club, Cheerleading Club, Business Club, and a range of STEM-focused societies. The breadth reflects student voice shaping provision annually rather than a static offering.

The house system sits at the heart of pastoral life. Students belong to one of several houses (names not specified in available materials) that provide tutor groups, assembly leadership, and competitive inter-house events. The house structure fosters belonging; sixth formers see house leadership as a key responsibility, mentoring younger members and organising house activities.

Mental health and wellbeing appear prioritised despite academic rigour. Student review noted that the "myth that SJB only cares about grades" is just that — a myth. Ofsted's Outstanding grades for Personal Development suggest the school actively supports the whole child. The school provides counselling, peer support schemes, and clear safeguarding structures. Student Charter and uniform policies communicate clear expectations; implementation appears consistent and fair.

The school is severely oversubscribed, with 786 applications for 233 Reception entry places (3.37:1 ratio). Year 7 entry cohorts are similarly competitive. Admissions follow standard coordinated process through Surrey LA; Catholic criteria apply but are not restrictive. Non-Catholics can apply and do gain places, though the published admissions policy prioritises looked-after children, then Catholic applicants, then by distance.

The school sits just outside Woking town centre. No formal catchment boundary exists, though proximity strongly influences likelihood of offer. Entry to sixth form remains external; A-level requirements are not exceptionally high, but students must be prepared for the pace and breadth of the sixth form offer.

The school day runs 8:50am to 3:20pm for main school, with sixth form timetables offering greater flexibility. After-school clubs typically finish by 5:00pm; beyond this, care arrangements are family responsibility. The school operates a cashless catering system (Scopay) requiring advance payment; lunch prices follow standard state school rates.

Transport links are strong: Woking train station (22 minutes from London Waterloo) sits a 15-minute walk away. Bus services connect from surrounding parishes. Parking is limited on-site (catering to staff and essential visitors) but available in wider Woking.

The uniform is formal: blazer, tie, and tailored dress code. Mobile phone policies are enforced; devices must be stored during lessons. iPad provision is central to learning, removing the need for students to bring devices.

Catholic identity is genuine and pervasive. Daily prayer, weekly Mass, Friday chapel attendance for many, Spiritual Development as timetabled curriculum — this isn't secular education with religious history added. Families uncomfortable with visible faith practice should consider schools with lighter religious character.

Admission is fiercely competitive. A ratio of 3.37:1 at primary entry means distance and Catholic status matter. Families outside the Deanery parishes or non-Catholic should not assume placement and should have alternatives ready.

The pace is rapid. Above-average progress means the curriculum moves quickly. Students who struggle with pace or who need significant differentiation may find the environment pressurised. The school provides additional support, but intensity is inherent to the model.

Sixth form is separate campus. The transition between Year 11 and Year 12 involves moving buildings. Students repeat some friendship-building and orientation; this suits independent learners more than those needing extensive continuity.

St John the Baptist offers a rare proposition in England's state system: a faith-led Catholic comprehensive that ranks firmly in the top 25% for academic outcomes without selecting by ability. Teaching quality is evident, pastoral care is genuine, and extracurricular breadth rivals many independent schools. The February 2025 Ofsted inspection validated this picture with Outstanding across every category. The school suits students with academic ambition, openness to Catholic faith, and a desire to be part of a purposeful community. Those who thrive here describe transformative experiences; the school's own alumni — now in teaching leadership across the region — speak to lasting impact.

Best suited to families within or near the Deanery parishes who value Catholic education, want state funding, and seek rigorous academics within a pastoral framework. Catholic families farther afield may work hard to secure a place; non-Catholics should have alternatives ready.