cardinal vaughan memorial school
Welcome
I am very pleased to welcome you to Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School. It is a privilege to lead this wonderful community and I am very proud of the many achievements you will find described in these pages.
We are determined to draw out and develop the aptitudes and talents of all our pupils. At the heart of the School lies our Catholic ethos, which underpins everything we do. Quite simply, we see our principal role, as a Catholic school, to be a seed-ground for the apostolic mission of the Church. The School aims, through its commitment to Catholic teaching, to prepare our pupils to undertake their responsibilities as Catholics in society Working in partnership with parents, we aim to foster in our pupils a love for the Church which will help them to grow and develop as they make their way through life.
In this, I believe, we are successful, as our outstanding public examination results, which far exceed national averages, show 2024 was another fine year for A-Level results, with 45 4% at A* and A (as opposed to the national average of 27.8%), and 75.2% at A* to B. At GCSE, 37.2% of grades were 9 & 8, and well over half (58.1%) 9, 8 or 7. The magnificent results speak eloquently for themselves and keep Cardinal Vaughan one of the highest performing comprehensive schools in the country.
Paul Stubbings Headmaster
amare et servire
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is an academy in the Archdiocese of Westminster. The School has a strong Catholic ethos, a pan-London intake, a tradition of outstanding academic outcomes and a strong regard for good behaviour, self-discipline and self-improvement among its pupils.
The purpose of the School is best expressed in the words of Cardinal Manning, which appear in the preamble to our Mission Statement: we seek ‘the formation of the whole person: intellect, heart, will, character and soul.’ At a fundamental level, then, our vision for what this Catholic school should (and can) achieve is in a sense pre-packaged. Our aim is to make this ideal a reality.
We aim to preserve these unchanging ideals in the context of a rapidly changing world We want the school to be progressive in the truest sense; in other words, we must identify and retain the best of the old and graft this to the best of the new, so that the foundations on which our pupils’ progress is built are strong and lasting. This, in practice, will entail a remorseless focus on tailoring our practice to suit the multifold needs of our pupils, whatever their ability, so that their development – be it academic, spiritual, social, moral, sporting or aesthetic – is as firmly embedded and lasting as possible
This will require a blend of intellectual coherence, intelligent recalibration of existing good practice to ensure lasting improvement, energetic action and systematic monitoring to ensure that the needs of a changing intake are constantly met. For the whole school community, it demands (and, hopefully, entails) unity of purpose
the courses and Entry Requirements
The table below shows the MINIMUM requirements in terms of GCSEs for entry to our Sixth Form courses If your achievement turns out to be at, or very near, the minimum required, you should perhaps think carefully before selecting this course and seek advice.
Course 1
BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies (Double Award) with up to 2 subjects
Course 2
Four subjects, including Business Studies and Sociology
At least six GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications up to a maximum of two) Six qualifications must be Grade 5 or above, with English and Mathematics at Grade 4 or above. The specific requirements for particular subjects, as set out in the Sixth Form Prospectus, must also be satisfied
At least six GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications up to a maximum of two) Six qualifications must be Grade 6 or above, with English and Mathematics at Grade 5 or above. The specific requirements for particular subjects, as set out in the Sixth Form Prospectus, must also be satisfied
Course 3
Four subjects
At least six GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications up to a maximum of two) Four qualifications must be Grade 7 or above and a further two must be Grade 6 or above; such qualifications must include English and Mathematics The specific requirements for particular subjects, as set out in the Sixth Form Prospectus, must also be satisfied
Course 4
Five Subjects
At least six GCSEs (or equivalent qualifications up to a maximum of two) Four qualifications must be a Grade 8 or above and a further two must be Grade 7 or above; such qualifications must include English and Mathematics The specific requirements for particular subjects, as set out in the Sixth Form Prospectus, must also be satisfied.
Firstly, the predicted grades you provide on your application, which are confirmed by the current school, will be used to decide whether the minimum level of attainment has been met Once GCSE results are published, actual grades will be used The ability to meet the minimum level of attainment does not guarantee a place in the Sixth Form
The blocks
We offer a BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies, equivalent to 2 A Levels Pupils will be expected to take at least one additional A-Level subject with this course
Applicants for Course 3 or Course 4 must choose either four or five subjects respectively Those choosing Course 2: A-Levels in Business Studies and Sociology should choose an additional two subjects The entry requirements for subjects are set out on the next page The entry requirement for progression from the Lower Sixth to the Upper Sixth Form is subject to a pupil achieving at least three grade Ds in their summer examinations; the results of which will be used to inform their UCAS Predicted Grades.
Subjects offered are shown below. Each subject must be chosen from a different Block:
Block 1
Block 2 Block 3
Block 4
Block 5
Further Mathematics & Mathematics Biology Art Biology
Biology
Classical Civilisation Economics Classical Civilisation Computer Science Design & Technology
Mathematics
Sociology
A course may be withdrawn if too few pupils apply Undersubscribed courses are not viable in financial or educational terms. If a course is undersubscribed, any available places will be split between other courses available.
Subject Requirements
The following subjects may all be started without having studied them previously:
Business Studies
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
Economics
Drama Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Politics
Psychology
Sociology
Theology
As a general rule, however, you may not start an A-Level subject unless you have achieved at least grade 6 at GCSE There are also additional requirements in the following subjects:
For ART, you must have you must have at least Art grade 6 at GCSE
For BIOLOGY, you must have at least Biology 7 or Combined Science 77, and Mathematics grade 7
For CHEMISTRY, you must have at least Chemistry 7 or Combined Science 77, and Mathematics grade 7
For CLASSICAL CIVILISATION, you must have at least English grade 6
For COMPUTER SCIENCE, you must have at least Mathematics grade 7 or Computer Science 7
For DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY, you must have at least Design & Technology (i e Resistant Materials or Graphic Products) or Engineering 6
For ECONOMICS, you must have at least English 6 and Mathematics grade 6
For ENGLISH LITERATURE, you must have at least English grade 7
For FURTHER MATHEMATICS, you must have at least Mathematics grade 8
For GEOGRAPHY, you must have at least Geography, English and Mathematics grade 6
For HISTORY, you must have at least History and English grade 6
For LATIN, you must have at least Latin grade 7
For MATHEMATICS, you must have at least Mathematics grade 7
For MUSIC, you must play an instrument/sing to a standard equivalent to at least Grade V Associated Board standard and also have passed the Grade V Theory Examination or GCSE Music grade 7
For PHILOSOPHY, you must have at least English grade 6
For PHYSICS, you must have at least Physics 7 or Combined Science 77, and Mathematics h grade 6
ombined Science 66 and Mathematics grade
Curriculum
The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School is highly acclaimed for its outstanding academic results. In addition, we encourage pupils to develop their own interests and achieve far more than just examination success.
The many opportunities to excel, both within and beyond the classroom, provide an environment in which every individual can develop their talents to the full
The Curriculum as outlined may be subject to amendment from time to time in the light of governmental reform and other requirements
Our Sixth Form has expanded steadily and, and for many years has been enriched by the admission of a considerable proportion of girls We offer a wide choice of subjects:
Art
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Classical Civilisation
Computer Science
Design Technology
Drama
Economics
English Literature
Extended Project Qualification (EPQ)
French
Further Mathematics
Geography
History
Latin
Mathematics
Music
Philosophy
Physical Education
Physics
Politics
Psychology
Theology
Sociology
Spanish
All pupils take Core R.E., Sixth Form sport is available, though not compulsory. Opportunities are provided for all Sixth form pupils to undertake Community Service
Catholic Life
We are a Catholic community, committed in our Mission Statement to the vision of the School as a spiritual building whose cornerstone is Christ and whose foundations are the Apostles and Prophets. It follows that our community must be one of love, all of whose members honour the Christ they find in one another
Each person in the School, no matter what his or her worldly status, deserves to be treated with the respect and, indeed, reverence due to one created in the image of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ.
At Cardinal Vaughan, our school motto is Amare et Servire, so love and service are key elements of the School ethos We encourage our pupils to accept leadership roles and demonstrate love and service in action to ensure that the Catholic school ethos is carried across all areas of school life.
"One thing I find unique about the Vaughan is how our motto is instilled in us. Every day I see Love and Service being shown through both my peers and the teachers here I feel that going forward, these values will help me in leading a good Catholic life " Samuel S, Head Boy (2022-23)
"Cardinal Vaughan offers young people a first-class Catholic education and a wonderful preparation for later life Our leavers go on to a wide variety of top universities and carry with them impressive personal qualities which ensure that they are equipped to continue developing as Catholics in an increasingly complex world: I am proud that we encourage our pupils to regard their faith as a gift to be actively nurtured rather than passively received."
Paul Stubbings, Headmaster
Ofsted outstanding
Highlights from Ofsted
'Pupils grow and flourish in every way here. They are extremely proud to be part of this strong and caring school community. Leaders and staff have very high expectations for all pupils. They work together to help pupils develop into wellrounded individuals who love learning and achieve highly
Pupils’ behaviour is exceptional They treat each other and staff with dignity and respect Pupils share the aspirations leaders and staff have for them and value their support. Pupils want to be the best they can be, both at school and in the future.
Pupils told inspectors that they feel happy and safe here If pupils do have concerns, they know who to speak to They are confident staff will listen to them On the rare occasions when bullying occurs, staff are swift to deal with this effectively.
Academic study is balanced with pupils’ wider development. Leaders encourage all pupils to broaden their experiences They offer plentiful extra-curricular activities to enrich pupils’ learning This includes a huge variety of clubs, musical opportunities and overseas trips
Leaders provide a rich and extensive curriculum for all pupils. They have high expectations and challenging standards. These apply to all areas of school life. Pupils achieve highly in all their subjects. This includes pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged '
Life at the Vaughan
extra-curricular
Cardinal Vaughan has an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities, from sports teams (including football, rugby, netball) to a globally renowned Music Department which includes a dedicated Sixth Form choir, our increasingly important Eco Club, and Model UN to name a few. Recent trips have included South Korea, Naples, Galapagos Islands, and Ecuador.
Sixth Formers are also encouraged to take part in our charity programme, which involves working with local businesses and charities to raise money and materials for those less fortunate (including Mary's Meals and local food banks), as well as helping to arrange and staff our annual Senior Citizens Tea Party and help volunteer at Vaughan Parent's Association events
Our annual musical is also a highlight, with Sixth Formers taking on the lead roles each year.
We also now work with partner primary schools such as St Joseph's (Cadogan Square), where Sixth Form students will visit and provide workshops for the pupils.
Alongside the many extracurriculars in the Sixth Form, there are also leadership opportunities. Members of the Sixth Form have a responsibility of vital importance to discharge within the School.
Like their parents and teachers, they teach by example; younger boys have the right to expect the very best example from these senior members of the School
Many members of the Upper Sixth are appointed as senior or assistant prefects; we believe that this will help them to develop qualities of leadership and responsibility.
Testimonials
“I still remember my first day like it was yesterday. Although I joined not knowing a single person, I made friends with people before I had even got to the school I think that is really a testament to the nature of Cardinal Vaughan and everyone in it. I am so grateful to have been part of a community like ours that will extend beyond our time here. I am sure, like myself, some of your best memories will have been made with the people you have met during these two years.”
"I vividly remember the first day in year 7, everyone sitting in Assembly for mass singing ‘To Be a Pilgrim' and then being sent off to their first class. So many good laughs from that first lesson, our first rugby and football sessions to getting up at the crack of dawn to dip our toes in the ocean on our biology trip last year. This school has given every student countless opportunities to develop ourselves as learners and as people with a strong connection with the school for many years to come.”
Keoni M, Head Girl (2023-24) Alistair L, Head Boy (2023-24)
aDMISSIONS
For full details of our Sixth Form including courses etc. use the QR code below
The application process is online The first stage is to register using the link below Year 11 applicants, rather than their parents, should complete the online application Parents will be updated regularly
You will need details of your most recent predicted grades for your online application
If you are Catholic, you will need to upload your baptism or reception certificate and a Certificate of Catholic Practice (CCP) You can start your online application and upload these documents later as long as you do so by the end of November
To start your application please visit https://cvms.applicaa.com/year12
You will find it easier to do this on a laptop or PC rather than a mobile phone
Amare et Servire
