The Palmer Catholic Academy
Secondary · Academy converter · Ages 11–18 · Ilford, Redbridge
Last distance offered · Year 7 2026
Every applicant was offered a place
From London Borough of Redbridge · offers on 2 March 2026
2022–2025 trend 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
The Palmer Catholic Academy is a secondary school in Ilford, Redbridge for ages 11–18 (academy converter). Redbridge has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2022 to 2026 entry.
The Palmer Catholic Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Year 7 2026 | Every applicant was offered a place |
| Year 7 2025 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2024 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2023 | 🔒 With a pass |
| Year 7 2022 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- In 2024/25, 47% got grade 5 or above in GCSE English and maths (England 45%), 3rd lowest of 9 schools: this one and the 8 nearest secondary schools in Redbridge.
- For Year 7 in 2026 there were 120 first-choice applications for 186 offers; 119 offers went to first-choice families and 1 first-choice family was not offered a place.
- Of the 362 Year 7 applications in 2026, 80 (22%) came from families living outside Redbridge, and 24 offers went to them.
- Free school meals: 31.8% of pupils are eligible, against a middle figure of 25.4% across the 8 nearest secondary schools in Redbridge.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Redbridge schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8EU
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–18
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Council
- Redbridge
- Pupils on roll
- 1,132 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 31.8% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 15.7
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
No Ofsted grade Inspected 3 February 2026
Strengths
- “Pupils interact harmoniously and benefit from a strong, caring ethos.”
- “The school actively embraces the rich diversity of its community.”
- “Pupils report that they feel safe in school, know exactly who to speak to if they have concerns and are confident in how staff address any unkindness or bullying.”
To improve
- “However, there is too much variability in how effectively this is done.”
- “In some lessons, assessment is not used consistently to check pupils' understanding and guide next steps.”
- “This limits the progress that some pupils make through the curriculum.”
Safeguarding: met
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 8 May 2026 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 47% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 48.8 | 46 |
| A level average grade (2024/25) | C | B- |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 120 first-preference applications, 186 offers in total, 119 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Redbridge.
- Oaks Park High School 1.0 mi Improved significantly Last distance published
- The Ursuline Academy Ilford 1.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Mayfield School 1.1 mi School remains Good Last distance published
- Chadwell Heath Academy 1.1 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Valentines High School 1.4 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- King Solomon High School 2.0 mi Requires improvement Last distance published
- Ilford County High School 2.1 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Beal High School 2.4 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published