Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Bristol Review 2026: Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes

Built in 1955 to serve the Lawrence Weston parish community, Our Lady of the Rosary is a voluntary aided Catholic primary with a distinctly local feel and a clear sense of routine.

Academic outcomes sit above the England picture. In 2024, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

This is a school where leadership roles matter early. Pupils can take on responsibility through the junior leadership team, chaplaincy roles and language ambassador positions, which helps children practise confidence and service rather than simply hearing about it.

The defining feature here is a straightforward rhythm to the day, paired with a strong values language that pupils are expected to use. School starts at 8:55am, ends at 3:15pm, and the site is open to pupils from 8:45am. That simple clarity tends to reduce morning friction for families and sets expectations early for pupils.

Faith is not treated as an optional add on. The admissions policy is explicit that Catholic teaching and practice are intended to permeate school life, with parish links referenced in how places are prioritised when the school is oversubscribed.

What does that feel like day to day for a child? It often shows up in practical leadership structures and collective worship roles, rather than in slogans. The chaplaincy offer is visible, and the wider religious calendar is actively marked across the year, with pupils involved in re telling stories and leading elements of worship. The net effect for families is a school culture where the language of prayer and service is normalised, and where children are given structured opportunities to speak and lead in front of others.

Headteacher Sally Lux leads the school.

The headline story is strong primary attainment when compared with England averages.

In 2024, 83.33% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined. The England average in the same measure is 62%. That difference is meaningful because it suggests the typical pupil here is leaving Year 6 with a secure platform for secondary school literacy and numeracy.

At the higher standard, 22% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. This matters for families whose child is ready for stretch, because it indicates that higher prior attainers are not being held back by the pace of the class.

Scaled scores reinforce the same picture. Reading was 108, mathematics 106, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 109. These scores sit above the typical England benchmark of 100.

For parents comparing options locally, the FindMySchool rankings help translate that attainment into relative position. Ranked 2,400th in England and 26th in Bristol for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), results place the school above England average and comfortably within the top quarter of schools in England.

A useful way to sense the balance of strengths is to look across subject thresholds. In 2024, 91% reached the expected standard in grammar, punctuation and spelling, 88% in mathematics, 81% in reading, and 91% in science. This points to a cohort that is generally secure across the core, with particularly strong writing mechanics and science.

Parents weighing several Bristol primaries can use the FindMySchool Local Hub comparison tool to put these results side by side with nearby options, rather than relying on impressions alone.

The curriculum is presented as a structured set of subject plans, with published curriculum statements across areas including English, mathematics, geography, history, religious education and Forest School. For families, that tends to signal deliberate sequencing rather than a week by week patchwork.

External evaluation highlights a school where behaviour expectations support learning time. The latest Ofsted inspection in September 2023 judged the school Good overall, with Good judgements across all key areas including early years provision.

A helpful nuance from the same inspection is the “next step” focus. Assessment practice is still being developed in some subjects, with an emphasis on checking what pupils remember over time, not just what they can do immediately after a unit. In practical terms, that is the difference between pupils recalling a single history topic and pupils being able to connect ideas like chronology and empire across topics. For a child, good long term assessment usually means more timely retrieval practice and fewer surprises when topics return later.

As a Bristol primary, transition into Year 7 runs through the city’s coordinated admissions system, and the pattern of destinations will vary each year depending on applications, allocations and family preference.

For many families seeking Catholic secondary education in the area, St Bede’s Catholic College is a visible option, located in Lawrence Weston. It is close enough to be a realistic day to day destination for some pupils, subject to admissions criteria and place availability.

The broader implication is that families can plan transition in two parallel tracks. Track one is practical, shortlist nearby secondary schools early, attend open events, and understand travel time. Track two is criteria, if you are relying on faith priority for a Catholic secondary, keep documentation organised and follow supplementary form requirements carefully, because the paperwork timing can matter as much as the preference order.

This is a state school with no tuition fees. The real competition sits in admissions and, for many families, in geography and criteria rather than in cost.

Demand is clearly present. In the most recent recorded reception admissions data, there were 72 applications for 29 offers, indicating an oversubscribed picture overall.

For September 2026 Reception entry, applications are made via Bristol City Council, with the published closing date of 15 January 2026 and offers issued on 16 April 2026. Appeals submitted on time were due by 5 June 2026, with hearings from late June.

Because the school is its own admissions authority, the local authority coordinates the process but the school’s criteria determine priority when applications exceed places. The published admissions number for Reception for September 2026 is 30. Faith related categories sit high in the oversubscription order, including Catholic looked after children and Catholic children resident in specified parishes.

The practical step for Catholic applicants is usually the supplementary information form plus evidence of baptism or reception into the Catholic Church, returned by the same closing date as the main application.

School tours for Reception entry are typically scheduled in the autumn term, with both morning and late afternoon options mentioned for the September 2026 entry cycle. Dates change year to year, so families should check the current schedule directly with the school office.

Parents can use the FindMySchool Map Search to check exact distance and practical travel time, especially if you are weighing this against other Lawrence Weston and north west Bristol options.

Pastoral support is strongest when it is both relational and systematic, children know who to go to, and adults have shared routines for noticing issues early.

External evaluation points to pupils feeling safe and to positive staff pupil relationships. Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective, and the inspection notes pupils’ confidence that adults listen and help with worries.

On the everyday side, there is a practical emphasis on arrival, punctuality, and clear end of day procedures by year group. That kind of operational clarity is not glamorous, but it reduces anxiety for younger pupils and supports consistent safety routines for families collecting children.

For families who want children to build responsibility, there are structured pupil roles, including the junior leadership team and chaplaincy. This tends to suit children who enjoy contributing visibly, and it can help quieter pupils practise speaking with a defined purpose rather than being put on the spot.

The co curricular offer is at its best when it is specific, regular, and accessible. The published clubs list is unusually concrete, with named activities across the week and clear timings.

Clubs are scheduled to run from 3.20pm to 4.20pm unless otherwise stated. The current list includes Lego Club for Years 3 and 4, Hot Seat Debate Club for Years 2 to 6, Our Voice Magazine Club for Years 3 to 6, board games for Years 2 to 6, and separate dance clubs for younger and older year groups. For a child, that mixture creates two clear pathways, practical making and play, and structured speaking and performance.

There is also an explicit chaplains activity slot midweek, which reinforces that faith formation is not confined to assemblies. Pupils who take this on are learning leadership in a setting that combines responsibility with service, rather than simply collecting badges.

Outdoor learning appears as a defined strand through Forest School, with published curriculum statements and timetables. That matters for pupils who learn best through doing, because it gives another route into language development, teamwork and practical problem solving.

The school day runs 8:55am to 3:15pm, with the site open to pupils from 8:45am. Break is 10:40am to 10:55am, and lunch is 12:30pm to 1:30pm.

Breakfast club runs from 7:50am and is priced at £3.00 per session, with children supervised through to 8:45am before going to class.

After school care is available via an external provider, with children cared for until 6pm and holiday provision also described. Families should confirm current availability and booking arrangements directly, as third party childcare capacity can shift during the year.

• Faith criteria matter in oversubscription. If you are relying on Catholic priority, you will usually need to complete both the local authority application and the school’s supplementary form, with supporting evidence, by the relevant closing date. Missed paperwork can affect priority ordering.

• Competition for places. Reception demand has been higher than supply in the latest recorded data, so families should keep alternative preferences realistic and attend tours early in the cycle.

• Assessment development in some subjects. Long term checking of what pupils remember is still being strengthened in parts of the curriculum; this is worth asking about if your child thrives on clear review cycles and cumulative knowledge building.

• Wraparound is partly external. Breakfast club is school run, but after school care is provided by an external organisation, so arrangements may not mirror the school’s own termly routines.

For families who want a Catholic primary where faith practice is woven into daily routines, and who value clear structures alongside strong KS2 outcomes, this is an attractive Bristol option. Academic results compare well against England averages, and the enrichment offer is practical and specific, from Forest School to debating formats and pupil leadership roles.

It suits children who respond well to routine, enjoy taking on roles, and benefit from a school culture that treats service and responsibility as learnable habits. The main challenge is admission rather than what follows.