Voluntary aided school · Waltham Forest

Holy Family Catholic School

11–18Ages
1,175Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
Sixth formAges 16–18
103106URN

1 Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 3EA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.2per place

0.6 below Waltham Forest median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Waltham Forest

242 applications for 110 places · 13th of 16 in Waltham Forest

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

48.1of 90

Waltham Forest 49.1 England 46.0

11th of 17 in Waltham Forest

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 21 March 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Sixth form provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.2applications per place, Year 7

0.6 below Waltham Forest median (2.8) close to England median (2.2)

242 applications · 110 places offered · 80 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.2; Waltham Forest median median 2.8
2025 2.2; Waltham Forest median median 2.7
2024 2.1; Waltham Forest median median 2.8
2023 1.8; Waltham Forest median median 2.6
2022 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 2.6
2021 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 2.9
2020 2.2; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2019 1.9; Waltham Forest median median 3.0
2018 2.1; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2017 2.0; Waltham Forest median median 3.2
2016 2.3; Waltham Forest median median 3.1
2015 2.7; Waltham Forest median median 3.0
2014 2.2; Waltham Forest median median 2.7

More applications per place than the Waltham Forest median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Waltham Forest median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	110	242	2.2	80	0.73
Sep 2025	122	265	2.2	106	0.87
Sep 2024	128	267	2.1	96	0.75
Sep 2023	154	282	1.8	108	0.70
Sep 2022	169	319	1.9	130	0.77
Sep 2021	177	331	1.9	139	0.79
Sep 2020	174	377	2.2	137	0.79
Sep 2019	184	356	1.9	129	0.70
Sep 2018	209	431	2.1	154	0.74
Sep 2017	206	405	2.0	164	0.80
Sep 2016	175	400	2.3	149	0.85
Sep 2015	174	477	2.7	169	0.97
Sep 2014	182	399	2.2	205	1.13

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

196 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.111th of 17 in Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest 49.1 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%11th of 17 in Waltham Forest

Waltham Forest 50% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths69%

Waltham Forest 69% England 66%

This school
Waltham Forest median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.04

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	196	48.1	47%	69%	–
2024/25	200	45.5	43%	64%	–
2023/24	206	44.6	39%	60%	−0.04
2022/23	195	44.9	44%	65%	−0.30

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Holy Family Catholic SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.2applications per place 48.1Attainment 8
Frederick Bremer School
0.6 km · Waltham Forest

Remains Good2024

4.0applications per place 49.7Attainment 8
Walthamstow School for Girls
0.7 km · Waltham Forest

Standards maintained2024

3.2applications per place 57.9Attainment 8
Walthamstow Academy
1.6 km · Waltham Forest

Remains Good2022

4.2applications per place 52.9Attainment 8
South Chingford Foundation School
1.7 km · Waltham Forest

2026

2.2applications per place 42.8Attainment 8
Leytonstone School
1.8 km · Waltham Forest

2026

3.1applications per place 49.7Attainment 8
Kelmscott School
2.1 km · Waltham Forest

Standards maintained2025

2.8applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Highams Park School
2.2 km · Waltham Forest

Good2024

3.2applications per place 49.1Attainment 8
Willowfield School
2.3 km · Waltham Forest

2026

2.3applications per place 43.5Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Voluntary aided school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 103106 · 320/4603
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 1,240 pupils · 1,175 on roll
Free school meals: 34.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: 1 Shernhall Street, Walthamstow, London, E17 3EA
Local authority: Waltham Forest

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources