The Holy Cross School
Roman Catholic Girls' Secondary Academy (non-selective, 11–18) — state-funded, free · Est. 1931
Founded in 1931 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen — Swiss nuns who bought a Victorian mansion called 'Southesk' and opened with five pupils — The Holy Cross School is a non-selective Roman Catholic girls' school in the heart of New Malden. It is free, state-funded, and run by the Archdiocese of Southwark, and parents consistently describe a small, close-knit, family-feeling community. It shares a co-educational sixth form with the nearby Catholic boys' school, Richard Challoner.
One of the highest-progress non-selective schools in the country — a Progress 8 score around +1.0 puts Holy Cross in roughly the top 1% for the academic progress its girls make from age 11 to 16. Free, Catholic, and heavily oversubscribed.
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25 Sandal Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 5AR
Cost
Free
state-funded Catholic academy — no fees, no entrance exam
Admissions
Faith criteria
non-selective; heavily oversubscribed (~4 applications per place)
Total Pupils
988
girls 11–18, ~232 in the (co-ed) sixth form (Ofsted 2022)
Founded
1931
by the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen
Progress 8
+1.03
2024 (school figure) — among the top ~1% of schools in England
Ofsted
Good
all five categories Good (May 2022); predecessor school was Outstanding
Best For
Practising Catholic families in the New Malden, Kingston, Wimbledon and Surbiton area who want a free, faith-centred girls' education in a small, warm, close-knit school — and who value exceptional academic progress (one of the highest Progress 8 scores in the country) over the prestige of a selective or fee-paying name.
Watch Out For
Admission is genuinely faith-gated: a baptised, practising Catholic child has a strong chance, but a non-Catholic family is highly unlikely to secure a place — the school is heavily oversubscribed (around four applications per place). Note also that A-level raw grades sit closer to national averages than the GCSE progress story implies — the school's strength is value-added at GCSE. The May 2022 Ofsted gave three areas to improve: Design & Technology curriculum breadth, consistency of SEND support, and how staff resolve friendship/bullying issues.
Entry Points
- Main intake at Year 7 (PAN 150, five-form entry) via the Local Authority Common Application Form and the school's faith-based oversubscription criteria — there is no entrance test or interview. Entry to the co-educational Sixth Form (run jointly with Richard Challoner) is by GCSE grades, and is open to applicants from other schools. Occasional in-year places in other year groups.
The Complete Admissions Timeline
Every key date, deadline and decision point — with insider intelligence you won't find on the school website. Click any item to reveal verified insider knowledge.
The critical window: The Holy Cross School is a non-selective, state-funded Catholic academy: there is NO entrance examination and NO interview. Year 7 admission runs on the standard national secondary-transfer timeline. You must name the school on your home Local Authority's Common Application Form (CAF), submitted by the national deadline of 31 October in Year 6. Because the school applies faith-based oversubscription criteria, Catholic families who want to be considered under a faith criterion must ALSO complete the school's own Supporting Documentation Form (SDF) and, ideally, obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice (CoP) signed by their parish priest — returned directly to the school (by post or by hand, not email) by the school's stated deadline, which sits alongside the CAF deadline. National Offer Day for secondary places is 1 March (or the next working day). The Year 7 PAN is 150 (five-form entry, mixed-ability). Always check the current year's Admissions Policy on the school website — criteria and deadlines are set annually.
Understand that this is a faith-criteria school
There is no 11+ test for Holy Cross. The 'preparation' is entirely about evidencing Catholic practice and understanding the oversubscription criteria — not tutoring. If your family is not Catholic, be realistic: faith criteria take priority and the school is heavily oversubscribed.
Establish a record of Mass attendance
The Certificate of Catholic Practice asks a parish priest to confirm regular Mass attendance. This cannot be created at the last minute — it reflects a genuine, established pattern. Families who attend Mass regularly should make sure their parish knows them.
Open Evening + read the Admissions Policy
Attend the Year 7 Open Evening and read the current Admissions Policy carefully so you know precisely which oversubscription criterion applies and what evidence it needs.
Submit CAF + return SDF and Certificate of Catholic Practice
Name the school on the Local Authority Common Application Form, and return the school's own Supporting Documentation Form plus the priest-signed Certificate of Catholic Practice directly to the school.
National Offer Day
The home Local Authority issues the offer. Places are allocated strictly by the published oversubscription criteria and tie-breaker.
Key Dates — Year 7 Entry (state secondary timeline)
- 1
Year 7 Open Evening
Autumn term of Year 6 (date published on the school site each summer)
- 2
Common Application Form (CAF) deadline
31 October (Year 6) — submitted to your home Local Authority
- 3
Supporting Documentation Form (SDF) + Certificate of Catholic Practice
By the school's stated deadline (alongside the CAF deadline)
- 4
National Secondary Offer Day
1 March (or next working day)
- 5
Accept offer / lodge appeal or waiting-list request
Within the window stated on the offer (typically mid-March)
How a Place at Holy Cross Is Actually Decided
There is no entrance examination and no interview at The Holy Cross School — it is a non-selective state academy. When the school is oversubscribed (it almost always is, at roughly four applications per place), places are allocated strictly by a published order of faith-based oversubscription criteria, with a tie-breaker. Understanding exactly where your family sits in that order — and getting the supporting paperwork right — is the entire 'admissions game'. The three areas below are what actually determine the outcome.
Oversubscription Criteria
Set annually in the Admissions Policy · Strict published order of faith-based oversubscription criteria — no test, no interview
The most common error is assuming 'we're Catholic' is enough. The order distinguishes sharply between a priest-evidenced practising Catholic family and a nominally Catholic one — and a non-Catholic family is realistically near the bottom of a heavily oversubscribed list.
Certificate of Catholic Practice
Reflects a sustained pattern — not a single term · Parish-priest-signed certificate confirming established Mass attendance
The CoP cannot be manufactured late. Priests sign based on the attendance they actually witness, and the certificate reflects a sustained pattern — not a flurry of visits in the application term. Families decide their eligibility here years in advance, whether they realise it or not.
Tie-breaker & Waiting List
Applied at the point of allocation and on the waiting list · Published tie-breaker within each criterion (commonly straight-line distance; sibling link usually sits in the criteria)
Two traps: (1) assuming distance is irrelevant because you 'qualify' — within a popular criterion it is often decisive; (2) treating the waiting list as first-come-first-served — it is re-ranked by criteria, so a later applicant can leapfrog you.
Topic Difficulty & Weight
Difficulty (%) and exam weight by topic area
Key takeaway: Places are allocated in a strict published order. Looked-after and previously looked-after Catholic children come first, then — per the Good Schools Guide — practising, priest-endorsed Catholic children, then other Catholic children, then (if places remain) other looked-after children and finally other applicants. 'Catholic trumps all.' Always check the exact wording in the current year's Admissions Policy.
Topic Breakdown
Known Exam Traps — Oversubscription Criteria
Read the current Admissions Policy and identify your exact criterion; obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice if you want the practising criterion
Be realistic — list genuine alternatives; faith criteria fill the heavily oversubscribed list
The pattern: The most common error is assuming 'we're Catholic' is enough. The order distinguishes sharply between a priest-evidenced practising Catholic family and a nominally Catholic one — and a non-Catholic family is realistically near the bottom of a heavily oversubscribed list.
If you can only improve in one area, make it
Know your exact criterion in the current-year policy
What this means in practice:
Dedicate 60%+ of prep time to this area
Practice under timed conditions regularly
Review mistakes immediately after each session
Track progress weekly to spot patterns
All focus areas ranked by impact:
#1
Know your exact criterion in the current-year policy
Oversubscription Criteria
#2
Establish genuine, recognised Mass attendance early — then evidence it
Certificate of Catholic Practice
#3
Check the exact tie-breaker and how distance is measured for your address
Tie-breaker & Waiting List
Results & League Table Position
Holy Cross consistently ranks among the top co-educational schools in England. These figures are benchmarked against national averages so you can see the full picture.
A-Level A* Rate
Not published
Public A-Level breakdown not published.
A-Level A*/A Rate
23%
2025 A-level (delivered through the joint Holy Cross / Richard Challoner sixth form): 23% A*–A, 49% A*–B. Across the sixth form's full A-level and BTEC mix, 78% of grades were A*–C, 100% of Extended Project Qualifications were graded A*–A, and around 90% of leavers progressed to university. Raw A-level grades sit close to national averages — this is a non-selective school — with the standout academic story at GCSE.
GCSE Grade 9-7
41%
Public GCSE breakdown not published.
A-Level A*-B Rate
49%
Holy Cross does not appear in independent-school league tables — it is a free, state-funded Catholic academy. In state-sector progress measures, however, it is consistently one of the strongest non-selective schools in the Kingston area and nationally. The fair comparison is with other local Catholic and community schools, not with selective grammars or fee-paying schools.
A-Level Results vs National Average
Holy Cross vs England average (%)
What this means: A-level results come through the joint sixth form with Richard Challoner: 23% A*–A and 49% A*–B in 2025, with 78% A*–C across the full A-level and BTEC offer and around 90% of leavers going on to university. Read these as the outcomes of a non-selective intake — raw grade shares sit close to national averages rather than above them. The sixth form's strength is breadth (two sites, academic and vocational routes) and destinations support, with teachers encouraging Russell Group applications and apprenticeships alike.
GCSE Grade Distribution
Holy Cross vs National distribution (%)
What this means: GCSE is where Holy Cross stands out. 41% of entries were graded 9–7 in 2025 and 89% of girls secured grades 9–4 in both English and Maths, on an Attainment 8 of 63.5. But the number that matters most is Progress 8 — consistently around +1.0 (the school cites +1.03 for 2024) — placing Holy Cross among roughly the top 1% of schools in the country for how far its pupils progress between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4. That is a value-added result, achieved with a comprehensive, all-ability intake.
University Destinations
Where Holy Cross leavers go — % of cohort
The school signals strong progression outcomes, but does not publish a detailed destination split in the public admissions material used for this brief.
Notable Academic Achievements
Among the top ~1% in England for pupil progress
The Holy Cross School's Progress 8 score has been consistently and strongly positive — the school cites +1.03 for 2024 — meaning its girls achieve, on average, around a full grade higher across their GCSE subjects than similar pupils nationally. For a non-selective school taking pupils of all abilities, this is an exceptional value-added record.
Ofsted Good across every category (May 2022)
The May 2022 Ofsted inspection rated the school Good overall and Good in all five areas — Quality of Education, Behaviour and Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership and Management, and Sixth-Form Provision. Inspectors described 'a welcoming school' with 'a sense of family', 'exemplary' pupil attitudes and 'calm' behaviour. The predecessor school had been judged Outstanding.
Founded in 1931 by Swiss nuns — opened with five pupils
The Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen, who came to England from Switzerland in the early 1900s, bought a Victorian mansion called 'Southesk' in June 1931 and opened the school on 23 September 1931 with just five pupils under Sister Christina. The school gained Voluntary Aided status in 1959; trusteeship passed to the Archdiocese of Southwark in 2000, and it became an academy in 2012.
A genuinely Catholic school — motto 'O crux ave spes unica'
The Latin motto, 'O crux ave spes unica' — 'Hail the Cross, our only hope' — reflects a Catholic character that runs through school life rather than sitting in the background. The school strapline, 'Learn Joyfully. Live Fully.', frames an ethos parents and inspectors alike describe as one of tolerance, respect and strong moral purpose.
A co-educational sixth form, shared with Richard Challoner
Since 1988, Holy Cross has run a joint sixth form with the nearby Catholic boys' school, Richard Challoner — students can take courses at both sites, giving a far broader range of A-level and BTEC subject combinations than a single small school could offer. In 2025, 100% of Extended Project Qualifications were graded A*–A.
Small, close-knit, family-feeling community
With under 1,000 pupils, Holy Cross is markedly smaller than several neighbouring options. Parents on forums repeatedly choose it for exactly this — a 'close-knit community feeling', somewhere 'students are a name not a number'. Ofsted picked up the same: 'many pupils spoke of the sense of family in the school's community'.
Notable alumnae
Former pupils include the classical singer Maryetta Midgley and Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden since 1997.
League Table Position: Holy Cross does not appear in independent-school league tables — it is a free, state-funded Catholic academy. In state-sector progress measures, however, it is consistently one of the strongest non-selective schools in the Kingston area and nationally. The fair comparison is with other local Catholic and community schools, not with selective grammars or fee-paying schools.
Is There an Interview or Assessment?
No — there is no interview and no entrance test for Year 7 entry. Places are decided purely by the faith-based oversubscription criteria (see Admissions Intelligence above). The one assessment that exists — a CAT4-style cognitive test — is sat only AFTER a place has been offered and accepted, and is used solely to set teaching groups. It is not selective, and there is nothing to prepare for it.
Format
No interview, no entrance test — admission is by oversubscription criteria only
Duration
No entry assessment — the post-offer CAT4 has no pass mark
Role in Admissions
None — the CAT4 is sat after a place is accepted; it sets teaching groups, not offers
There is nothing to tutor or rehearse — including the CAT4
Because there is no test or interview that affects entry, the worst mistake a family can make is to treat Holy Cross like a selective school and spend money on 11+ tutoring. That includes the CAT4 streaming test sat in Year 7: it happens after the place is confirmed, so coaching cannot help your daughter get in — and an inflated score simply lands her in a set that is too hard. The only things that influence the actual offer are your faith criterion, your supporting documentation, and (within a criterion) distance. Put the effort there.
What Makes a Strong Impression
Nothing the child does at the point of application affects entry — there is no impression to make. What matters is whether the family meets a faith criterion and has evidenced it correctly and on time. Once a girl is in, parents and Ofsted alike describe a school where she is quickly known: 'a sense of family', 'students are a name not a number', and a Year 13 'Big Sisters' programme that helps new pupils settle.
What families actually need to get right
Compiled from parent reports (2023-2025)
- Name Holy Cross on the Local Authority Common Application Form by 31 October
- Complete and return the school's Supporting Documentation Form (SDF) directly to the school
- Obtain a Certificate of Catholic Practice from your parish priest, in good time
- Identify your exact oversubscription criterion in the current year's Admissions Policy
- Understand the distance tie-breaker and how the waiting list is ranked
- Know the Year 7 CAT4 is post-offer, for streaming only — don't prep for it
The pattern: Nothing the child does affects entry. Once a place is offered and accepted, the CAT4 baselines verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning — purely to set teaching groups.
Never Asked — Don't Over-Prepare
- Any entrance test or cognitive assessment as a condition of entry (the CAT4 streaming test is sat AFTER acceptance and never affects the offer)
- A child interview or 'taster day' that affects the offer
- Tutoring, practice papers or 11+ preparation of any kind
- References from the child's current school as a selection device
What Actually Wins Offers
- 1Meeting a faith oversubscription criterion — ideally the priest-evidenced practising-Catholic criterion
- 2Returning the SDF and Certificate of Catholic Practice correctly and on time
- 3Living within a realistic distance for your criterion
- 4Reading the current-year Admissions Policy rather than assuming last year's rules
- 5Having a genuine, established parish relationship — not a last-minute one
“Lovely school with lovely girls.”
“We chose Holy Cross for our daughter because it had a close-knit community feeling to it compared to Ursuline.”
“It is smaller but there was something very warm and appealing that drew us in. The teachers are great and the results are excellent.”
“We chose HC over Ursuline because it felt like a better fit for our DD.”
“If you're Catholic. Holy Cross (girls) and Richard Challoner (boys).”
Contact Admissions
The Holy Cross School Admissions Team
Insider Intel: What Other Parents Don't Know
These are the verified insights you will not find on the school website, in Good Schools Guide, or from any single tutoring agency. Each insight is compiled and cross-referenced from 16+ sources including official documents, parent reports, and tutoring industry data.This is the intelligence that gives ClassAce families an edge.
There is no entrance exam — do not tutor for one
The Holy Cross School is a non-selective state academy. There is no 11+ test and no interview for Year 7 entry. Any tutoring or practice-paper spend aimed at 'getting into Holy Cross' is wasted — the outcome is decided entirely by faith-based oversubscription criteria. The real preparation is administrative and faith-related, not academic.
The Certificate of Catholic Practice is the document that actually matters
To be considered under the higher 'practising Catholic' criterion, you need a Certificate of Catholic Practice signed by your parish priest, evidencing a genuine, established pattern of Mass attendance — returned to the school with its Supporting Documentation Form. Per the Good Schools Guide, 'Catholic trumps all, with priority… given to priest-endorsed attendance at mass.' This cannot be arranged at the last minute: priests sign for the practice they have actually seen. Families effectively decide their eligibility here years in advance.
Naming the school on the CAF is not enough on its own
Two separate things have to happen: (1) name The Holy Cross School on your home Local Authority's Common Application Form by 31 October, AND (2) return the school's own Supporting Documentation Form — plus the Certificate of Catholic Practice — directly to the school office (by post or by hand, not email). Families who do only the first are assessed without their faith evidence and can drop into a lower criterion. This is the most common, and most costly, admissions mistake here.
Heavily oversubscribed — realistically not an option for non-Catholic families
Holy Cross is significantly oversubscribed — one recent intake reportedly drew around 629 applications for ~150–155 places, roughly four per place. Because the oversubscription criteria are faith-based and 'Catholic trumps all', the list typically fills long before reaching non-Catholic applicants. If your family is not Catholic, treat Holy Cross as highly unlikely and build your application around genuine alternatives.
The 'CAT4 test' is real — but it's post-offer and for setting, not selection
Parents sometimes hear Holy Cross 'tests Year 6 girls' and assume an entrance exam — it isn't one. The school's admissions page says successful applicants are tested 'after offers have been accepted and confirmed' purely 'to determine any streaming'. It is almost certainly the CAT4 (the standard UK cognitive baseline), though the school doesn't name it. What it covers: four kinds of reasoning — verbal (word relationships and analogies), non-verbal (figure patterns and matrices), quantitative (number reasoning) and spatial (rotating and folding shapes). It is sat under normal classroom conditions in early Year 7, has no pass mark, and cannot affect the offer. Do not tutor for it — a coached profile lands your daughter in a set that is too demanding.
The headline academic strength is GCSE progress, not raw A-level grades
Holy Cross's standout metric is Progress 8 — consistently around +1.0 (the school cites +1.03 for 2024), among roughly the top 1% of schools nationally for how far pupils progress from age 11 to 16. That is a value-added story from an all-ability intake. A-level raw grades (23% A*–A, 49% A*–B in 2025) sit closer to national averages — strong for a non-selective school, but not the same as a selective or fee-paying school's grade profile. Judge the school on progress and destinations, not on grade-share league tables.
The sixth form is co-ed and runs across two schools
Since 1988, Holy Cross has shared a sixth form with the Catholic boys' school Richard Challoner — students can take courses at both sites, which is how a school of under 1,000 can offer a broad academic-and-vocational A-level/BTEC menu. It is co-educational and open to applicants from other schools. Worth knowing: a girl who joins at 11 moves into a noticeably bigger, mixed, two-site environment at 16 — for many that breadth is a positive, but it is a real change of scale.
Ofsted May 2022 gave three specific things to improve
The Good rating was unqualified, but inspectors named three areas: (1) Design & Technology — too narrow a curriculum in Years 7–9 and limited options at GCSE (the school had plans to address this from September 2022); (2) inconsistency in how staff apply identified SEND support strategies across the curriculum; (3) some pupils feel staff don't resolve friendship-group and bullying issues consistently well, even though reported incidents are dealt with effectively. All three are worth raising at an Open Evening to hear how the school has responded since.
Small and 'family-feeling' — chosen for exactly that over bigger neighbours
Across Mumsnet threads, parents who picked Holy Cross over the larger Ursuline High School Wimbledon did so for its scale: 'much smaller', 'close-knit community feeling', 'students are a name not a number'. Ofsted independently noted 'a sense of family'. If your daughter would thrive being known in a smaller setting, this is a genuine strength; if she wants the resources and breadth of a large school, weigh it up.
The waiting list is ranked by criteria — not by when you join it
If you miss out on National Offer Day, stay on the waiting list — but understand how it works: it is re-ranked every time someone joins, strictly by the oversubscription criteria, not by application date. A family that moves into the parish or strengthens its faith evidence later can move above you. Waiting lists at Catholic schools do move, so it is worth holding a place and also considering an independent appeal.
A genuinely Catholic school — the faith is woven through, not decorative
Run by the Archdiocese of Southwark, with a motto ('O crux ave spes unica') and ethos that inspectors and parents describe as pervasive — Mass, chaplaincy, house charity fundraising, a strong moral framing. The school is also welcoming and inclusive (Ofsted noted a pupil 'diversity group' organising LGBT History Month and International Women's Day, and an ethos 'of tolerance and respect'). Families should expect, and want, the Catholic dimension to be real — it is the heart of the school, not background.
Common Mistakes Parents Make
The errors we see most often from families preparing for The Holy Cross School. Avoid these and you're already ahead of the majority of applicants.
Tutoring for a Holy Cross 'entrance exam'
There is no entrance exam and no interview. Holy Cross is a non-selective state academy — admission is decided entirely by faith-based oversubscription criteria. Money and time spent on 11+ tutoring for this school achieve nothing.
Fix: Redirect the effort: read the current Admissions Policy, identify your criterion, and get the faith documentation right and early.
Only naming the school on the Local Authority CAF
The Common Application Form alone does not link your faith evidence to the application. Without the school's Supporting Documentation Form and a Certificate of Catholic Practice returned directly to the school, a practising Catholic child can be assessed under a lower criterion.
Fix: Do both: submit the CAF to your LA by 31 October AND return the SDF + Certificate of Catholic Practice directly to the school office by its deadline.
Leaving the Certificate of Catholic Practice to the application term
The CoP reflects a genuine, established pattern of Mass attendance that a parish priest can vouch for. It cannot be created by a burst of attendance in Year 6.
Fix: Establish and maintain real parish involvement from well before Year 6, so the certificate reflects a long-standing pattern.
A non-Catholic family relying on Holy Cross as a main option
The school is heavily oversubscribed and the oversubscription criteria are faith-based — 'Catholic trumps all'. In a normal year the list fills before reaching non-Catholic applicants.
Fix: Be realistic. If you are not Catholic, build your secondary application around schools where you genuinely qualify, and treat Holy Cross as a long shot at best.
Tutoring your daughter for the 'CAT4' streaming test
The CAT4 is sat AFTER the place is already accepted, and is used only to decide teaching sets. Coaching it can't help her get in (she's already in) — and an inflated cognitive profile lands her in a set that is too hard.
Fix: Leave it completely un-prepped. Let her sit it cold and well-rested — an accurate profile is what gets her taught at the right level from day one.
Reading raw A-level grades as the school's academic level
Holy Cross is non-selective. Its A-level grade share sits near national averages — but its GCSE Progress 8 (around +1.0) is among the best in the country. Judging it only on A-level grade percentages misses its real strength.
Fix: Look at Progress 8 and destinations data, and compare with other non-selective schools — not with grammars or fee-paying schools.
Holy Cross vs Competitor Schools
How does The Holy Cross School compare to the schools your child is most likely also applying to? This analysis covers the key factors that actually matter to families.
Important context: On academic progress, Holy Cross is one of the strongest non-selective schools in the area and nationally (Progress 8 around +1.0). On size, it is deliberately small — chosen by parents for exactly that over the larger Ursuline High School. On admissions, it is faith-gated: a realistic option only for Catholic families. It is not a substitute for, or competitor to, the selective Tiffin Girls' School — different sector entirely.
| Factor | FeaturedThe Holy Cross School | Ursuline High School, Wimbledon | Richard Challoner School | Coombe Girls' School | The Tiffin Girls' School (for context) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Catholic Girls' State Academy (11–18) — non-selective, faith admissions | Catholic Girls' State School (11–18) — non-selective, faith admissions | Catholic Boys' State School (11–18) — Holy Cross's joint sixth-form partner | Community Girls' State School (11–18) — non-selective, distance-based | State Selective Girls' Grammar (11–18) — entrance test |
| Co-educational | |||||
| VR in Exam | |||||
| Annual Fee | |||||
| 11+ Difficulty | Faith-gated (heavily oversubscribed) | Faith-gated (oversubscribed) | Faith-gated | Catchment-based (oversubscribed) | Very High (selective exam) |
| Interview Style | No | No | No | No | No |
Why Parents Choose Holy Cross
- Exceptional academic progress, free of chargeA Progress 8 score around +1.0 — top ~1% nationally — from a non-selective, all-ability intake, at no cost. For a Catholic family, that combination is hard to match.
- Small and genuinely close-knitUnder 1,000 pupils, with a 'sense of family' noted by both Ofsted and parents. Families repeatedly pick it over larger neighbours for this.
- A real, lived Catholic ethosRun by the Archdiocese of Southwark, with faith woven through school life — for families who actively want that, it is central, not decorative.
- A broad co-ed sixth form via Richard ChallonerThe long-standing joint sixth form gives a far wider A-level and BTEC menu than a single small school could, with strong destinations support.
Points to Consider
- Faith-gated and heavily oversubscribedRealistically a Catholic-families-only option, at roughly four applications per place. Non-Catholic families should not rely on it.
- A-level raw grades sit near national averagesThe progress story is at GCSE. Families wanting a top raw A-level grade profile should look at the data clearly and compare like with like.
- Ofsted's three improvement areasDesign & Technology breadth, consistency of SEND support, and resolution of friendship/bullying issues — all worth raising directly with the school.
- Small school, smaller resource base than large neighboursThe intimacy is a strength for many, but a large school's breadth of facilities and activities is a genuine trade-off.
Scholarships & Financial Support
The Holy Cross School is a free, state-funded Catholic academy — there are no fees, and therefore no scholarships or means-tested bursaries in the independent-school sense. Financial support that does apply is the standard state-sector framework: Pupil Premium funding for eligible disadvantaged pupils, free school meals for those who qualify, and the usual hardship support for trips and equipment. There is nothing to apply or compete for on a scholarship basis.
| Scholarship Type | Value | Available Places | Selection Method | Stackable? |
|---|
* Because admission is non-selective and faith-based, there are no academic, music, sport or art 'awards' attached to entry. Families seeking help with the cost of trips, uniform or equipment should contact the school office about Pupil Premium eligibility and any hardship provision.
The Preparation Roadmap
Everything here is built around The Holy Cross School's specific exam format, interview style, and selection criteria. This is not generic 11+ advice. Every recommendation is calibrated to this school.
Year 4–5 — Establish (not tutor)
Build the faith record — there is nothing academic to prepare
- Understand that Holy Cross has no entrance exam — do not tutor for one
- If Catholic, build and maintain a genuine, recognised pattern of parish Mass attendance
- Get to know your parish priest — the Certificate of Catholic Practice depends on a real relationship
- If not Catholic, research realistic non-faith alternatives early
Useful resources
Your parish · The school's published Admissions Policy (previous year, as a guide)
Start of Year 6 — Visit and read the policy
Open Evening and the current-year Admissions Policy
- Attend the Year 7 Open Evening
- Download and read the CURRENT year's Admissions Policy — criteria are set annually
- Identify exactly which oversubscription criterion your family falls into
- Check the tie-breaker (usually distance) and how it is measured for your address
Useful resources
School Open Evening · Current-year Admissions Policy (school website) · Local Authority admissions pages
By 31 October of Year 6 — Apply
Submit the CAF and the faith documentation
- Name The Holy Cross School on your home Local Authority's Common Application Form
- Complete the school's Supporting Documentation Form (SDF)
- Obtain the Certificate of Catholic Practice from your parish priest
- Return the SDF and CoP DIRECTLY to the school office by post or by hand (not email)
Useful resources
Local Authority Common Application Form · School SDF · Parish priest (for the CoP)
1 March of Year 6 — Offer day
National Secondary Offer Day
- Receive the offer from your home Local Authority
- Accept within the stated window
- If unsuccessful, request a waiting-list place (ranked by criteria, not date)
- Consider lodging an independent appeal if you have grounds
Useful resources
Local Authority offer letter · School admissions office · Independent appeals process
Summer of Year 6 — Transition
Settling in
- Attend the school's Year 7 transition / induction events
- Complete enrolment paperwork and uniform
- Note the Year 13 'Big Sisters' programme that supports new pupils
- There is no academic 'catch-up' expectation — the school takes an all-ability intake
Useful resources
School transition programme · Year 7 induction days
You now know things about this school most applicant families never find out.
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Intelligence Score
Updated May 2026 (incl. Ofsted May 2022 report fully extracted + 2025 results + 2026/27 admissions) · 16 sources
Coverage
Measures how much of the admissions picture is directly evidenced rather than inferred from comparable schools or legacy material.
Freshness
This edition was last checked May 2026 (incl. Ofsted May 2022 report fully extracted + 2025 results + 2026/27 admissions). Recency scores fall when public evidence ages or current-cycle detail is sparse.
Use it well
Treat lower-scoring areas as prompts to verify with admissions, not as automatic red flags. The score is about evidence quality, not school quality.
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Near Holy Cross
Schools nearby
Christ Church New Malden CofE Primary School
Primary · 629m away
Coombe Girls' School
Secondary · 747m away
Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School
Primary · 801m away
The Holy Cross School
Secondary · 819m away
Burlington Infant and Nursery School
Primary · 864m away
Burlington Junior School
Primary · 864m away