School profile

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

Secondary · Academy converter · St Albans, AL4 0TT

Outstanding

Map showing Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

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

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#491 of 3,312

Better than 85% of schools in England

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

A-level 2024/25

#945 of 2,536

Better than 62% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 14 Nov 2023

Ofsted rating
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Sixth form provision
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeAcademy converter
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,134
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherMr Andy Dunne
TrustTHE DIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMY TRUST
Local authorityHertfordshire
Opened01 Mar 2012
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 137938.

GCSE results

2025/26

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

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.55, better than England, better than Hertfordshire50.446.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.84.4%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire71.3%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.66.5%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire53.6%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.18.4%, better than England, similar to Hertfordshire18.8%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths81%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire67.2%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4179--

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 schoolHertfordshireEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.35.77, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire36.8235
Average A-level gradeB---
Average points, best three A-levels37.35, similar to England, similar to Hertfordshire37.435.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsB---
AAB or better13%, worse than England, worse than Hertfordshire19%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.0.21, better than England--
A-level progressAbove average, better than England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study87--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

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

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,134
Girls445
Boys689
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.11.6%
First language not English31.2%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,052
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25200
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.159
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.42
Average class size20.6

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

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
41.1%
Other White
22.2%
African
12.3%
Irish
4.8%
Other mixed
4.1%
White and Black African
3.2%
White and Asian
2.2%
Other Asian
1.9%
Indian
1.8%
White and Black Caribbean
1.6%

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

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.5
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.12.6
Teachers (FTE)68.8
Teaching assistants (FTE)14.54
Support staff (FTE)44.5
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2561.2
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2553.8
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/252
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/255.4

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 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)Places offered on national offer day.170
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.623
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.194
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.156
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)94

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

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Overall absence5.1%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire7.4%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.10.7%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire18.5%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.0.9%, better than England, better than Hertfordshire2.9%3.6%

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

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate6.3%
Pupils with one or more suspensions4.6%
Permanent exclusion rate0%
Permanent exclusions0

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 destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.97.1%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.96%
School sixth form67.8%
Further education27.6%
Apprenticeship1.1%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.1.1%
Sixth form college0.6%
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 destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.85.1%
Higher education55.2%
Employment20.9%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.13.4%
Apprenticeship7.5%
Further education1.5%

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 Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.7 miSecondaryBeaumont SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimaryOakwood Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.9 miPrimaryWindermere Primary SchoolCommunity school
Requires improvement
0.9 miPrimaryCamp Primary and Nursery SchoolCommunity school
Good
1.1 miPrimaryFleetville Infant and Nursery SchoolAcademy converter
Outstanding
1.1 miAll-throughSamuel Ryder AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Good
1.1 miPrimaryCunningham Hill Junior SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.1 miPrimaryCunningham Hill Infant SchoolCommunity school
Outstanding
1.1 miPrimaryFleetville Junior SchoolAcademy converter
Good
1.2 miPrimaryColney Heath Primary SchoolAcademy converter
Good

Frequently asked questions about Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

What is Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School's Ofsted rating?

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School is rated Outstanding by Ofsted, last inspected on 14 Nov 2023.

How does Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School rank in England?

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School ranks 491 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (better than 85% of schools) and 945 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (better than 62% of schools).

What are Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 66.5% of pupils at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 55 (England 46.2).

What are Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School was B-, and 13% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School made 170 offers from 623 applications (3.7 per offer), and 156 of 194 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School?

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School has 1,134 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School?

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School had 1,052 school places in 2024/25.

Does Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School have a sixth form?

Yes, Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School has a sixth form with 200 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School?

At Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School, the average class had 20.6 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.5 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School missed 5.1% of sessions (England 8%), and 10.7% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

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.