The Palmer Catholic Academy

About The Palmer Catholic Academy

The Palmer Catholic Academy is an academy converter in Ilford, Redbridge, England, for pupils aged 11–18. It has 1,155 pupils on roll. The school has a Roman Catholic religious character. It is part of THE GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC TRUST. At GCSE, pupils achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 48.5 (2025/26). 31.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 42.1% have English as an additional language.

School Information

Local Authority

Redbridge →

School Type

Academy converter

Phase

Secondary

Age Range

Ages 11–18

Gender

Mixed

Pupils / Capacity

1,155 / 1,174 (98%)

Sixth Form

Has a sixth form

Religious Character

Roman Catholic

Admissions Policy

Non-selective

Who attends this school — useful context if you’re considering teaching here.

Source: DfE School Census, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Official Department for Education results, pupil destinations and attendance.

Progress 8 isn’t published for this year group: their Key Stage 2 baseline (2021 SATs) was cancelled during the pandemic, so a progress measure can’t be calculated. GCSE figures are provisional and may be revised.

Source: Department for Education performance tables, 2025/26, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Some independent schools’ qualifications (e.g. IGCSEs) are not all reflected in these figures.

Staffing at this school, with the trend over recent years — useful if you’re considering working here.

Data for the 2024/25 academic year (trend lines show 3 years). Source: DfE School Workforce Census, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. State-funded schools only.

How this school is funded and where the money goes — per pupil.

Source: DfE school finance returns (CFR for council-maintained schools, AAR for academies), 2024-25, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Per-pupil figures are calculated from total income/expenditure.

Contact Details

Address

Aldborough Road South, Ilford, Redbridge, IG3 8EU

Phone

02085903808

Headteacher

Paul Downey

Website

www.tpc.academy

Academy Trust

Frequently asked questions

What type of school is The Palmer Catholic Academy?

The Palmer Catholic Academy is an academy converter in Ilford, Redbridge, England, for pupils aged 11–18.

How many pupils does The Palmer Catholic Academy have?

The Palmer Catholic Academy has 1,155 pupils on roll, according to Department for Education data.

How does The Palmer Catholic Academy perform at GCSE?

Pupils at The Palmer Catholic Academy achieved an average Attainment 8 score of 48.5 in 2025/26.

Is The Palmer Catholic Academy part of an academy trust?

Yes — The Palmer Catholic Academy is part of THE GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC TRUST.

Where is The Palmer Catholic Academy?

The Palmer Catholic Academy is located at Aldborough Road South, Ilford, Redbridge, IG3 8EU.