Saint Michael's Catholic High School is a secondary school in Watford, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a academy converter and operates as a mixed school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a roman catholic religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Saint Michael's Catholic High School currently has around 1121 pupils on roll, which is about 102% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 52.8% boys and 47.2% girls. Around 14.0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 6.5%. Persistent absence is recorded at 15.2%. The school also includes resourced provision, supporting 110 pupils.
The majority of pupils are from a white british background (56.7%). other white pupils make up about 15.7%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 98% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (94%) , including 59% who stay in school sixth forms and 36% progressing to further education , while 3% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | High Elms Lane, Watford, WD25 0SS |
| Website: | www.stmichaelscatholichighschool.co.uk |
| Telephone: | 01923673760 |
| School Type: | Academy converter |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Hertfordshire |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Edward Conway |
| Religious character: | Roman Catholic |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 137922 |
Ofsted inspection date: 04/02/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Mixed |
| School Capacity: | 1103 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1121 |
| Number of Boys: | 592 |
| Number of Girls: | 529 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6.5% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 15.2% | 8.2% |
| White British | 56.70% | 636 |
| Other White | 15.70% | 176 |
| African | 5.70% | 64 |
| Irish | 5.40% | 61 |
| Other Asian | 4.00% | 45 |
| White and Asian | 2.60% | 29 |
| Indian | 2.00% | 22 |
| White and Black African | 1.70% | 19 |
| Other Mixed | 1.60% | 18 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 1.40% | 16 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 0.90% | 10 |
| Caribbean | 0.70% | 8 |
| Other Black | 0.60% | 7 |
| Pakistani | 0.30% | 3 |
| Chinese | 0.30% | 3 |
| Unclassified | 0.30% | 3 |
| Bangladeshi | 0.10% | 1 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingswood Nursery School Briar Road , WD25 0DX | 4out of 4 | 1,709 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Wall Hall Nursery School University of Hertfordshire , Watford Campus WD25 8AT | - not rated | 2,988 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Horseshoe Lane , Garston WD25 7HP | 3out of 4 | 384 yd | Academy converter | No | Mixed | More About School |
| St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Horseshoe Lane , Garston WD25 7HP | - not rated | 384 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Coates Way JMI and Nursery School Coates Way , Garston WD25 9NW | - not rated | 776 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Mount Pleasant Lane Junior School Mount Pleasant Lane , Bricket Wood AL2 3XA | - not rated | 887 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Mount Pleasant Lane Junior Mixed and Infant School and Nursery Mount Pleasant Lane , Bricket Wood AL2 3XA | - not rated | 887 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Michael's Catholic High School High Elms Lane , Garston WD25 0SS | - not rated | 0 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Saint Michael's Catholic High School High Elms Lane , Garston WD25 0SS | - not rated | 0 yd | Voluntary aided school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Francis Combe School and Community College Horseshoe Lane , WD25 7HW | - not rated | 508 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Future Academies Watford Horseshoe Lane , Garston WD25 7HW | - not rated | 508 yd | Academy sponsor led | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Parmiter's School High Elms Lane , Garston WD25 0UU | 4out of 4 | 519 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garston Manor School Horseshoe Lane , Garston WD25 7HR | 3out of 4 | 424 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| High Elms Manor School High Elms Lane , WD25 0JX | - not rated | 647 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Stanborough Primary School Appletree Walk , WD25 0DQ | - not rated | 1,609 yd | Other independent school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Springfield School Leavesden Hospital , College Road WD5 0NU | - not rated | 1,723 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| International Stanborough School Stanborough Park , WD25 9JT | - not rated | 1,837 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.