School profile

The Palmer Catholic Academy

Secondary · Academy converter · Ilford, IG3 8EU

Requires improvement

Map showing The Palmer Catholic Academy

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,218 of 3,312

Better than 63% of schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,705 of 2,536

Worse than 67% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

The Palmer Catholic Academy Ofsted rating

Ofsted report cardInspected 3 Feb 2026

Area360 rating
Requires improvement
Inclusion
Expected standard
Curriculum and teaching
Needs attention
Achievement
Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour
Expected standard
Personal development and wellbeing
Needs attention
Leadership and governance
Expected standard
Post-16 provision
Needs attention
Safeguarding
Met

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,132 of 1,324 places
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Paul Downey
TrustTHE GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC TRUST
Local authorityRedbridge
Opened01 Aug 2011
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137088.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolRedbridgeEngland
Attainment 8 score48.554.846.2
Grade 4 or above in English and maths67.4%77.5%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and maths46.5%62.1%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and maths16%27.2%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths62%73.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4187--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolRedbridgeEngland
Average points per A-level entry30.8734.3635
Average A-level gradeC--
Average points, best three A-levels30.3834.935.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC--
AAB or better9.4%14.8%17.5%
A-level progress score-0.11--
A-level progressAverage--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study109--
Average applied general gradez--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26
MeasureThis school
Pupils1,132
Girls492
Boys640
Eligible for free school meals31.8%
First language not English42.1%
SEN support97
EHC plan25
Average class size20.2

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Pupils ethnicity

African
18.2%
Indian
16.2%
Pakistani
13.4%
Bangladeshi
11.1%
Other Asian
9.6%
Other White
8%
Caribbean
4%
White British
3.6%
Other Black
3.3%
Other mixed
3%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed. Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means missing 50% or more.

MeasureThis schoolRedbridgeEngland
Overall absence6.9%6.3%8%
Persistent absence23%17.4%21.6%
Severe absence1.6%1.5%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)186
Applications (Year 7)362
First preference applications (Year 7)120
First preference offers (Year 7)119
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)80

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Capacity

2024/25
MeasureThis school
School places1,324
Pupils on roll1,150
Unfilled places13.1%
Sixth form places320
Sixth form pupils on roll205

Source: DfE, School capacity, Academic year 2024/25, published 19 Mar 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26
MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher15.7
Pupils per adult11.8
Teachers (FTE)72.06
Teaching assistants (FTE)13.48
Support staff (FTE)35.92
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2568.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2561.4
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/253
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/254

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25
MeasureThis school
Suspension rate10%
Pupils with one or more suspensions6.3%
Permanent exclusion rate0.2%
Permanent exclusions2

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destination92.9%
Staying in education91.8%
School sixth form60.9%
Further education25%
Sixth form college6%
Not sustained4.9%
Apprenticeship1.1%
Employment0%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destination89.6%
Higher education70.4%
Employment14.8%
Apprenticeship4.3%
Not sustained4.3%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near The Palmer Catholic Academy
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miAll-throughArk Isaac Newton AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Outstanding
0.3 miPrimarySt Aidan's Catholic Primary AcademyAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimaryDownshall Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.4 miPrimaryAldborough Primary SchoolFree schools
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimarySouth Park Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.5 miAll-throughSeven Kings SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
0.5 miPrimarySS Peter and Paul's Catholic Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good
0.6 miPrimaryGordon Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.7 miNot applicableEastcourt Independent SchoolOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miPrimaryWinston Way AcademyAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about The Palmer Catholic Academy

What is The Palmer Catholic Academy's Ofsted rating?

The Palmer Catholic Academy is rated Requires improvement, last inspected on 3 Feb 2026. Recent Ofsted inspections have no single overall grade, so Area360 summarises the inspection grades.

How does The Palmer Catholic Academy rank in England?

The Palmer Catholic Academy ranks 1,218 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 63% of schools) and 1,705 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 67% of schools).

How many pupils attend The Palmer Catholic Academy?

The Palmer Catholic Academy has 1,132 pupils aged 11 to 18, with capacity for 1,324.

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.