The Palmer Catholic Academy
Aldborough Road South, Ilford, IG3 8EU
1,132 pupils · 96% of 1,174 capacity
- Phase
- Secondary
- Type
- Academy converter
- Ages
- 11–18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Trust
- THE GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC TRUST
- Local authority
- Redbridge
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 33.3%
Ofsted
Expected standard (2026) — Report card — the most common grade across the inspected areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Needs attention |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Needs attention |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
| Post-16 | Needs attention |
| Safeguarding | Met |
Inspected 3 February 2026, published 8 May 2026. Read the full Ofsted report
England has three coexisting inspection systems — how we translate them into one signal.
Exam results
| Measure | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| Attainment 8 score | 48.8 |
| Grade 5 or above in English & maths (strong pass) | 47.4% |
| Grade 4 or above in English & maths (standard pass) | 74% |
| Entering the English Baccalaureate | 40.1% |
Progress 8 is not published nationally for 2024/25 and 2025/26 while KS2 baselines are missing (no SATs in 2020/21). It returns from 2026/27.
“Not published (small cohort)” means the DfE suppressed the figure to protect small cohorts — it is not a zero.
Will my child get in?
Usually has places available — 0.65 first-choice applications per place (Sept 2026 entry)
| Entry | Places | 1st preferences | Total preferences | Offers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2026 entry | 186 | 120 | 362 | 181 |
| Sept 2025 entry | 161 | 77 | 334 | 136 |
| Sept 2024 entry | 175 | 97 | 343 | 166 |
| Sept 2023 entry | 188 | 76 | 340 | 150 |
| Sept 2022 entry | 187 | 100 | 393 | 187 |
| Sept 2021 entry | 183 | 91 | 385 | 183 |
| Sept 2020 entry | 189 | 97 | 400 | 159 |
| Sept 2019 entry | 188 | 81 | 444 | 164 |
First-choice demand varies year to year, and the school’s admission criteria — not demand — decide who is offered a place. Use this as a rough signal, never a prediction.
Nearby alternatives
- Oaks Park High School 1.6 km · Good (2019) · previous system
- The Ursuline Academy Ilford 1.7 km · Most areas: Expected standard (2026)
- Mayfield School 1.8 km · Good — confirmed 2024 · previous system
- Chadwell Heath Academy 1.8 km · No overall grade (2025)
- Valentines High School 2.2 km · Most areas: Exceptional (2026)
- Barking Abbey School, A Specialist Sports and Humanities College 2.5 km · Outstanding (2024) · previous system
Straight-line distance — not travel time, and not a catchment. Same phase, open schools only.
Data from DfE and Ofsted open data (OGL v3) — sources. School record updated 10 July 2026. Report incorrect data.