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OpenSecondaryOfsted: OutstandingURN 137938

Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School

Academy converter · St Albans · AL4 0TT

Ages 11–18 · 1,134 pupils · Hertfordshire

School website

Ofsted

Outstanding

Attainment 8

54.4

Overall absence

5.1%

Admissions demand

1.15 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

Outstanding

Inspection date

2023-11-14

Overall effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of education
Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding
Personal development
Outstanding
Leadership and management
Outstanding
Safeguarding effective
Yes

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8+0.75
−20+2
Attainment 854.4
English & maths grade 5+59%
English & maths grade 4+82%
EBacc entry76%

EBacc APS: 5.1

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence5.1%
Persistent absence (10%+)10.5%
Unauthorised1.3%
Authorised absence
3.8%
Severe absence (50%+)
1.0%
Enrolments in measure
922

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.15 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

193

Places offered

168

1st-preference offers

149

Total preferences (any rank)
560
Preferred offers (top 3)
168
Applications from outside LA
45
Offers to outside-LA applicants
11
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill107%

1,134 pupils · 1,056 places

Pupils on roll
1,134
Boys / girls
689 / 445
School capacity
1,056
Capacity fill
1,134 / 1,056 (107%)
Free school meals
11.5%
FSM pupils
105
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Academy converter

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Archdiocese of Westminster
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Academy trust: THE DIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMY TRUST
Academy trust
THE DIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMY TRUST
Headteacher
Mrs Anne Atkinson

Location

Address
Colney Heath Lane
Postcode
AL4 0TT
Town
St Albans
County
Hertfordshire
Local authority
Hertfordshire
District
St Albans
Constituency
St Albans
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in St Albans, Hertfordshire, 1,134 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 11.5%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Archdiocese of Westminster.

Open schools in St Albans
59
Secondary schools in St Albans
8
Academies among open schools in St Albans
37% (22)
Open schools in AL4
14
Secondary in AL4
3
Open schools in Hertfordshire LA
591
Secondary in Hertfordshire LA
77

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in St AlbansNear AL4

  • Beaumont School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 0XB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.0
    • P80.9
    • EM5+69%
    • Absence5.2%

    0.7 miles away

  • Verulam School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 4PR · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att851.8
    • P80.4
    • EM5+57%
    • Absence8.2%

    1.3 miles away

  • Loreto College

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 3RQ · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att859.4
    • P80.7
    • EM5+67%
    • Absence7.5%

    1.8 miles away

  • Sandringham School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL4 9NX · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att864.6
    • P81.1
    • EM5+82%
    • Absence5.2%

    1.8 miles away

  • St Albans Girls' School

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL3 6DB · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.6
    • P80.6
    • EM5+61%
    • Absence7.1%

    2.4 miles away

  • The Marlborough Science Academy

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    St Albans · AL1 2QA · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att844.1
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+40%
    • Absence9.7%

    2.7 miles away

  • Bishop's Hatfield Girls' School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Hatfield · AL10 8NL · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att856.7
    • P80.4
    • EM5+64%
    • Absence7.5%

    2.8 miles away

  • Townsend Church of England School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    St Albans · AL3 6DR · Hertfordshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att848.2
    • P80.1
    • EM5+51%
    • Absence12.3%

    3.0 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mrs Anne Atkinson
Telephone
01727860079
Website
http://www.nbs.herts.sch.co.uk/

Official links