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Academy converter · Redbridge

The Palmer Catholic Academy

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,132Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Roman CatholicReligious character
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 137088URN

Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8EU · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Feb 2026

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.0per place
1.0 below Redbridge median (2.9)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in RedbridgeSelective

362 applications for 186 places · 15th of 17 in Redbridge
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
48.5of 90
16th of 19 in Redbridge
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Report card · inspected 3 February 2026Published 8 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
AreaExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement
InclusionExpected standard
Curriculum and teachingNeeds attention
AchievementExpected standard
Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
Personal development and wellbeingNeeds attention
Early yearsDoes not apply to this school
Post-16 provisionNeeds attention
Leadership and governanceExpected standard
  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

  1. 3 February 2026
    Report card · 4 Expected standard, 3 Needs attention
  2. 26 January 2022
    Ungraded inspection: School remains 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
2.0applications per place, Year 7
1.0 below Redbridge median (2.9) 0.3 below England median (2.2)

362 applications · 186 places offered · 120 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

  1. 2026 2.0; Redbridge median median 2.9
  2. 2025 2.1; Redbridge median median 2.7
  3. 2024 2.0; Redbridge median median 2.8
  4. 2023 1.8; Redbridge median median 3.0
  5. 2022 2.1; Redbridge median median 3.1
  6. 2021 2.1; Redbridge median median 2.9
  7. 2020 2.1; Redbridge median median 3.2
  8. 2019 2.4; Redbridge median median 3.1
  9. 2018 2.6; Redbridge median median 3.0
  10. 2017 2.8; Redbridge median median 3.0
  11. 2016 2.7; Redbridge median median 3.1
  12. 2015 3.2; Redbridge median median 3.2
  13. 2014 3.4; Redbridge median median 3.6
More applications per place than the Redbridge median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Redbridge 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261863622.01200.65
Sep 20251613342.1770.48
Sep 20241753432.0970.55
Sep 20231883401.8760.40
Sep 20221873932.11000.53
Sep 20211833852.1910.50
Sep 20201894002.1970.51
Sep 20191884442.4810.43
Sep 20181824762.61110.61
Sep 20171694712.8990.59
Sep 20161905212.71150.61
Sep 20151885973.21120.60
Sep 20141896333.41420.75

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

187 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)48.516th of 19 in Redbridge
Grade 5 or above in English and maths47%16th of 19 in Redbridge
Grade 4 or above in English and maths67%
  • This school
  • Redbridge median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.49
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)18748.547%67%–
2024/2519248.847%74%–
2023/2418450.454%76%+0.49
2022/2318754.872%82%+0.72

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

  • 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
Academy converter
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
137088 · 317/4800
Trust
The Good Shepherd Catholic Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Capacity
1,174 pupils · 1,132 on roll
Free school meals
33.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 August 2011
Replaced
Canon Palmer Catholic School (URN 102862)
Address
Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8EU
Local authority
Redbridge

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