School Chooser

St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedAcademyRoman Catholic1,512 pupilsSixth formWokingSurrey
School Chooser Score
93
Well above
similar schools
Likely range 90 to 95
Out of 100. Better than 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedNo overall gradeLast Ofsted inspection, February 2025
Strong pass in English and maths66%England 46%
Attendance94.7%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families8%Far fewer than most schools
PlacesFull1,512 pupils, 1,470 places
Pupils per teacher14.5School workforce census

St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking is a converter academy in Woking for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,512 pupils, 42 more than it has places for. About 8 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far fewer than at most schools in England. We give it 93 out of 100. That puts it well above schools like it, ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was inspected 2025, no overall grade.

Elmbridge Lane, Kingfield, Woking, GU22 9AL01483 729343sjb.surrey.sch.ukMr James Granville Hamshar headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 11 February 2025, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Not judged Between September 2024 and November 2025, Ofsted graded each area but stopped giving one overall word.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Outstanding
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Outstanding
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Outstanding
Sixth formOfsted calls this “post-16”
Outstanding
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

240 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score58.1
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths66%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths88%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.73In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2018 to 2025
2018: 60.760.720182019: 62.562.520192022: 62.962.920222023: 59.959.920232024: 60.660.620242025: 58.158.12025
Since 2018: -2.6Steady overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018SurreyEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11240238239210196189
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 858.160.659.962.962.560.750.646.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.73+0.87+0.99+1.13+0.97
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths66%78%74%81%81%74%54%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths88%89%87%93%94%89%73%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score5.395.665.545.705.645.614.544.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry83%84%84%60%56%65%44%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged41.848.534.443.646.254.1
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged59.661.161.564.463.961.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers34.034.440.335.131.5
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers73.973.177.971.970.7

Subjects

Results came out for 21 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Strongest subjects

Food Preparation & Nutrition90%grades 9 to 5, England 52% · 60th of 1,098 schools
Design & Technology86%grades 9 to 5, England 50% · 114th of 1,478 schools
Computer Science82%grades 9 to 5, England 56% · 243rd of 1,861 schools
Art and Design84%grades 9 to 5, England 58% · 329th of 2,818 schools
What is taught hereOffers triple science, 2 languages, computer science, music.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
Mathematics239 entries · 16th of 53 in Surrey
72%England 53%
English Language239 entries · 17th of 53 in Surrey
71%England 54%
Religious Studies234 entries · 14th of 34 in Surrey
73%England 60%
English Literature230 entries · 10th of 53 in Surrey
79%England 58%
Combined Science166 entries · 12th of 53 in Surrey
60%England 36%
History138 entries · 13th of 53 in Surrey
75%England 52%
Spanish105 entries · 25th of 40 in Surrey
57%England 54%
Geography101 entries · 23rd of 53 in Surrey
67%England 51%
Business94 entries · 14th of 41 in Surrey
70%England 51%
Biology71 entries · 35th of 45 in Surrey
87%England 82%
French71 entries · 28th of 38 in Surrey
59%England 60%
Physics69 entries · 32nd of 45 in Surrey
90%England 82%
Art and Design69 entries · 5th of 52 in Surrey
84%England 58%
Design & Technology63 entries · 2nd of 30 in Surrey
86%England 50%
Chemistry62 entries · 9th of 45 in Surrey
100%England 81%
Other Modern Languages51 entries · 2nd of 3 in Surrey
67%England 49%
Physical Education47 entries · 31st of 50 in Surrey
57%England 56%
Computer Science45 entries · 3rd of 42 in Surrey
82%England 56%
Drama35 entries · 8th of 28 in Surrey
83%England 60%
Food Preparation & Nutrition20 entries · 1st of 28 in Surrey
90%England 52%
Music12 entries
83%England 61%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
Mathematics23937%72%92%53%395 of 3,211
English Language23933%71%83%54%422 of 3,210
Religious Studies23441%73%82%60%531 of 1,825
English Literature23030%79%92%58%324 of 3,202
Combined Science16615%60%86%36%245 of 3,084
History13844%75%80%52%375 of 3,126
Spanish10530%57%71%54%909 of 1,941
Geography10142%67%76%51%529 of 3,116
Business9442%70%80%51%275 of 1,806
Biology7169%87%87%82%1,268 of 2,570
French7134%59%70%60%1,107 of 1,974
Physics6971%90%90%82%1,119 of 2,546
Art and Design6939%84%96%58%329 of 2,818
Design & Technology6343%86%97%50%114 of 1,478
Chemistry6273%100%100%81%205 of 2,537
Other Modern Languages5149%67%80%49%212 of 454
Physical Education4728%57%77%56%760 of 1,559
Computer Science4547%82%89%56%243 of 1,861
Drama3537%83%91%60%163 of 844
Food Preparation & Nutrition2055%90%95%52%60 of 1,098
Music1242%83%83%61%

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

177 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeB41.6 points per entry
A level progress+0.27Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better26%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished95%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure202520242023202220192018
Students177152143152274285
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry41.5941.4940.3443.6839.8938.95
Average A level gradeBBBB+BB
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS42.5342.7940.8444.9440.9741.71
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects26%29%25%28%28%26%
A level progressA level value added+0.27+0.23+0.00+0.20
Applied general courses: points per entry38.0040.8539.8341.27
T levels: points per entry46.2542.50
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed95%97%99%99%95%96%

A level subjects

23 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

Strongest A levels

Business Studies89%A* to B, England 47% · 35 entries
Geography93%A* to B, England 51% · 27 entries
Physical Education / Sports Studies82%A* to B, England 41% · 11 entries
Religious Studies81%A* to B, England 50% · 16 entries
A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics54Psychology37Business Studies35History34Biology32Geography27Chemistry25Physics24Economics22English Language18English Literature17Fine Art17Religious Studies16Photography16Sociology15Government and Politics13Physical Education / Sports Studies11Mathematics (Further)9Computer Science9Film Studies8Design and Technology (Product Design)7French5Italian5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics54 entries · 57% A* or A · 100% passed
85%England 60%
Psychology37 entries · 35% A* or A · 100% passed
68%England 46%
Business Studies35 entries · 49% A* or A · 100% passed
89%England 47%
History34 entries · 21% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 55%
Biology32 entries · 34% A* or A · 100% passed
63%England 49%
Geography27 entries · 59% A* or A · 100% passed
93%England 51%
Chemistry25 entries · 40% A* or A · 100% passed
60%England 53%
Physics24 entries · 46% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 51%
Economics22 entries · 50% A* or A · 100% passed
82%England 57%
English Language18 entries · 22% A* or A · 100% passed
50%England 44%
English Literature17 entries · 12% A* or A · 100% passed
59%England 52%
Fine Art17 entries · 35% A* or A · 100% passed
71%England 65%
Religious Studies16 entries · 38% A* or A · 100% passed
81%England 50%
Photography16 entries · 25% A* or A · 100% passed
81%England 58%
Sociology15 entries · 13% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 49%
Government and Politics13 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
39%England 55%
Physical Education / Sports Studies11 entries · 36% A* or A · 100% passed
82%England 41%
Mathematics (Further)9 entries · 56% A* or A · 100% passed
78%England 76%
Computer Science9 entries · 22% A* or A · 78% passed
44%England 46%
Film Studies8 entries · 63% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 57%
Design and Technology (Product Design)7 entries · 57% A* or A · 100% passed
100%England 38%
French5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 60%
Italian5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 74%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
41.859.6
Gap 17.8England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
40%68%
Gap 28 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
55.460.4
Gap 5.0England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Open to all. There is no entrance test. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Nearly full1,536 pupils for 1,600 places, 2024/25
96% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have grown by 4% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 0.8 miles away in 2026, 1.3 miles away in 2025, 3.5 miles away in 2024. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2026. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 0.8 miles from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Secondary2402400.8 milesLA
2025 Secondary2402401.3 milesLA
2024 Secondary2402403.5 milesLA

The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.

What a home within 1.0 miles of the school costs

Typical sale price within 1.0 miles of the school£392,828half sold for £273k to £545k
Homes sold768December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district-13%a typical home in the district sells for £450,000

Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,512Census January 2026
Places1,470103% full
Pupils from low-income families7%8% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English27%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support8%122 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan5%68 pupils with a plan
Average class size21.961 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils21%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)8%£102,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls763 / 749
White British pupils50%

Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 8 pupils, for autism.

To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Surrey with autism provision.

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (62), Autistic spectrum disorder (52), Specific learning difficulty (32), language and communications needs (13), Moderate learning difficulty (8), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (6).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,5121,5411,5311,4981,4681,425
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals7%6%5%5%4%3%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language27%27%25%22%10%11%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support13%14%15%15%7%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans4%3%3%3%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance94.7%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.8%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.02024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.4%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.3%6.0%6.4%6.7%2.6%3.8%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence5.0%5.5%5.8%6.4%2.4%3.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.4%0.5%0.7%0.4%0.2%0.2%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.8%15.3%15.1%18.3%4.4%6.0%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.08.59.08.54.3
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions02000

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 239 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training97%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 86%, compared with 98% for everyone else.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training97%96%97%97%
Education96%93%94%94%
Apprenticeship2%2%2%
Work1%1%2%1%
Not in education, work or training2%2%2%3%

After sixth form

Where the 142 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training91%and stayed there for at least six months

Where the ones heading for university went

Went on to degree-level study or training83%England 72%
Top-third universities41%England 22%. The universities that ask for the highest grades
Higher or degree apprenticeship5%England 6%
Higher technical course1%Level 4 or 5, such as an HNC or HND

Among students from low-income families, 63% went on to degree-level study or training and 13% to a top-third university.

Earlier years
Destination2022/23 leavers2021/22 leavers2020/21 leavers2019/20 leavers
Still in education, work or training91%89%93%
Education59%64%78%
Apprenticeship5%8%4%2%
Work28%17%11%
Not in education, work or training4%5%5%

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers104.0full-time equivalent, 114 people
Pupils per teacher14.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers98%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants14.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£50,828
Teachers who left in the year10%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.12024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£8,342England £7,965. Total £13m
Income per pupil£8,497England £8,423. Total £13m
Spent on teachers per pupil£4,775England £4,444
Money in reserve12%A healthy amount put by: £1.6m, £1,049 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£240kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,342spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m19712 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate85 per 1,000 people6% lower than the England average
Typical house price£450,000Woking
Nearest bus stop120 mWoking College, 15 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Hoe Valley SchoolFree school1.2 miles892No overall grade 202558Compare
Woking High SchoolAcademy1.7 miles1,205Not inspected81Compare
The Bishop David Brown SchoolAcademy2.2 miles790Good 202453Compare
The Winston Churchill School A Specialist Sports CollegeFoundation2.3 miles1,439Good 202351Compare
Fullbrook SchoolAcademy3.1 miles1,334Report card 202656Compare
George Abbot SchoolAcademy3.8 miles1,927Good 201986Compare
Christ's College, GuildfordAcademy3.9 miles641Good 202236Compare
St Peter's Catholic SchoolAcademy4.3 miles1,360Outstanding 202497Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats74%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 93 is 8 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 37 · middle 86 · highest 100100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Salesian School, ChertseyAcademy5.2 miles1,884No overall grade 202498Compare
St Richard Reynolds Catholic High SchoolAcademy13.4 miles1,175Outstanding 202498Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 93 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 93% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 90 to 95. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%well above
+0.27
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 240 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%well above
+0.34
Ofsted grade, 1.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%well above
+0.29
DfE progress measure; 240 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
-0.03
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well above
+0.13
2024/25; 1,218 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%above
+0.04
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 240 pupils
What pupils do next5%well above
+0.06
239 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking scores 93 out of 100. That is well above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 74% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 90 to 95, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking not judged at its last full inspection on 11 February 2025.

How good are St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 66% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 58.1, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished most of a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking have?

1,512 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,470 places, so it is 103% full.

Is St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 0.8 miles away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking?

Pupils were in school 94.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 11% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking?

The average class had 21.9 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 21% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

Does St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking have specialist SEND provision?

Yes. It has sen unit for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.

Does St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking have a sixth form?

Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was B. 23 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Elmbridge Lane, Kingfield, Woking, GU22 9AL
Telephone
01483 729343
Website
sjb.surrey.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mr James Granville Hamshar
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18, with sixth form
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Diocese of Arundel and Brighton
Multi-academy trust
Xavier Catholic Education Trust (23 schools)
Local authority
Surrey
Ward
Hoe Valley
Constituency
Woking
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2016 (academy converter)
URN
143369 · LAESTAB 9365402 · UKPRN 10057650
Formerly
St John the Baptist Catholic Comprehensive School, Woking

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from