Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Primary School Review 2026: High-performing Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A two-form entry Catholic primary with a clear sense of purpose and an unusually strong set of Key Stage 2 outcomes. The school sits in Langley Green, Crawley, close to Gatwick Airport, and serves families across the local Catholic parishes as well as families of other faiths and none.

Leadership is stable, with Mr Tobias Melia named as head teacher on official records and the school website. The school is also part of BOSCO Catholic Education Trust, which positions it within a wider group of Catholic schools across Sussex.

Families should expect competition for Reception places. The most recent recorded Reception entry data shows the school oversubscribed, with around three applications per place, which makes getting the paperwork right and meeting deadlines especially important.

Faith is not bolted on here, it is woven into daily routines, language, and expectations. The admissions policy is explicit that Catholic doctrine and practice permeate school life, while also stating that applications are welcomed from other denominations, other faiths, and families with no faith. That combination often produces a school identity that feels strongly values-led without being socially narrow.

The school’s own language puts emphasis on listening, love, and learning, and that comes through as a practical organising principle rather than a slogan. Pupils are encouraged to take responsibility for others, including through charity-minded pupil roles such as “mini-vinnies”, which signals a culture where service is treated as an everyday habit.

Structures are used to build belonging. House names shown in school communications include Franciscan, Salesian, Vincentian, Benedictine, and Notre Dame, a detail that tends to matter in a primary because it turns behaviour points and assemblies into something pupils can identify with quickly.

Leadership visibility is also clear from the way the school presents roles. Alongside the head teacher, the school sets out pastoral and inclusion roles such as a learning mentor and a special educational needs coordinator, which helps parents understand who to approach for different concerns.

The headline picture at Key Stage 2 is extremely strong. In 2024, 92.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared to an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 32.67% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared to the England average of 8%.

The scaled scores reinforce that this is not only a borderline pass story. Reading averaged 110, mathematics 109, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 112. The combined reading, GPS and maths total score was 331. Science also looks secure, with 90% reaching the expected standard (England average: 82%).

In FindMySchool’s rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 371st in England for primary outcomes and 1st in Crawley, a profile that places it well above the England average, within the top 10% of primary schools in England.

What this usually means in practice is that the school is not merely “good at SATs”, it is consistently effective at building core literacy and numeracy across the cohort. Families who want a school where academic basics are treated as non-negotiable will like that clarity.

The curriculum narrative is unusually coherent for a primary. The most recent inspection report describes content being thoughtfully sequenced so pupils learn key knowledge and skills in the right order, with pupils making strong progress through that planned curriculum.

Reading is positioned as a priority, with a strong focus on phonics in the early years and then a deliberate push into richer texts and deeper comprehension as pupils move up the school. There is also a useful note for parents who want honesty: leaders identified that some reading books were not well matched to pupils’ reading ability, and responded by reorganising how books are allocated so phonics practice aligns more tightly with what pupils have been taught.

Mathematics is described as a particular strength, built from early years foundations with careful questioning and structured progression into larger numbers and more complex calculations. For families whose child thrives on clear explanations and consistent practice, this kind of approach can be reassuring.

Specialist delivery is visible in some subjects. For example, the school’s published music development plan indicates a named music lead teaching classes across Years 1 to 6, which often improves consistency and raises ambition beyond “one-off performances”.

As a Catholic primary within the Crawley deanery, the school positions itself as part of a wider Catholic school network. The school’s community information notes St Wilfrid’s as the local Catholic secondary within the same deanery family of schools.

St Wilfrid’s Catholic School’s published admissions materials name this school as one of its deanery feeder primaries, which is useful context for parents aiming to stay within Catholic education through secondary. That does not guarantee a place, but it does help explain why some families see primary choice as part of a longer plan.

For families not set on a Catholic secondary route, the wider Crawley area offers multiple state secondary options via local authority admissions. Choices will vary depending on distance, sibling links, and the specific admissions rules in force in the year you apply.

Admissions for Reception are coordinated through the local authority, but the governing body remains the admissions authority for the school. The published admission number for Reception entry for September 2026 is 60 pupils.

The oversubscription criteria reflect the school’s Catholic character. Catholic looked-after and previously looked-after children sit at the top, followed by Catholic children with siblings and, in several categories, parish residence in Crawley, Worth or Horley. The policy also sets out how other Christian denominations, other faiths, and families with no faith are considered if places remain.

Process matters. For 2026 to 2027 entry, the policy requires two parts:

• A Common Application Form submitted via the local authority by 15 January 2026.

• A Supplementary Information Form submitted to the school by 15 January 2026 if applying under a faith criterion, including required supporting evidence.

Offers are stated as being communicated on the national offer date of 16 April 2026.

Competition is the underlying story. The most recent recorded Reception admissions data shows 182 applications for 59 offers, which is approximately 3.08 applications per place, and indicates the school is oversubscribed.

Parents comparing competitive schools should use the FindMySchool Map Search to understand realistic options in their area, then cross-check admissions criteria carefully before listing preferences.

Pastoral systems look structured rather than informal. The inspection report describes pupils feeling safe and confident that adults will help if they are upset or worried, with concerns dealt with quickly through a learning mentor role.

Inclusion is presented as an active leadership function, with an inclusion leader monitoring whether support is working and adjusting it when needed, which is a practical indicator of day-to-day responsiveness rather than purely compliance.

Safeguarding is treated as a core operational priority, including staff understanding of responsibilities and pupil education around topics such as online safety and bullying prevention.

Enrichment is organised termly, with a mixture of staff-led and externally-led clubs. Current examples published by the school include Football, Multi-Sports, Spanish Dancing, Choir, Basketball, Netball, Fizz Pop Science, and Beatbox.

Sport looks intentionally broadened beyond the usual inter-school fixtures. The PE information references teachers leading clubs in areas of expertise such as cricket and cross-country, alongside specialist-led football and Spanish dancing that run year-round. For pupils, the implication is access to a mix of participation and skill development rather than “turn up and play”.

Leadership opportunities for pupils also appear in PE-related roles and initiatives, including Sports Crew and Play Leaders, which can be a meaningful route for less naturally competitive children to build confidence.

There are also signs of outward-facing experiences. The inspection report references curriculum enrichment through visitors linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, plus community-focused activity such as singing at a local care home.

The published timetable sets the school day at 8.40am to 3.10pm. Breakfast provision starts at 7.50am, and after-school clubs run until 4.15pm. For wraparound beyond clubs, the school states that after-school care is delivered by Willow Tree Pre School.

In addition, the school describes on-site childcare provision in “The Den”, open between 7.50am and 8.40am for up to 40 pupils.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 and 2026 to 2027 are published on the school website, including inset days.

Travel planning is mostly about the realities of Crawley commuting and school-run logistics in Langley Green. The school notes its location close to Gatwick Airport, which is relevant for families whose work patterns include airport-linked travel times.

• Competitive Reception entry. The most recent recorded Reception entry data shows the school oversubscribed, at around three applications per place. Families should treat admissions as a process, not a preference, and prepare documents early.

• Faith criteria paperwork matters. If you are applying under a faith criterion, the Supplementary Information Form and supporting evidence must be submitted alongside the local authority form by the published deadline. Missing documentation can change how your application is ranked.

• Wraparound is structured but not late. Breakfast provision starts at 7.50am and clubs run to 4.15pm, with additional after-school care provided via an external partner. Families needing care into early evening should confirm current availability and booking arrangements directly.

• Catholic identity is prominent. The school’s admissions and ethos documents are explicit about Catholic practice shaping school life. Families wanting a lighter-touch faith presence should read the Catholic life and admissions information carefully before applying.

A high-performing Catholic primary with a clear values spine and KS2 outcomes that put it well above England averages. The school’s culture is built around faith, service, and belonging, and the practical routines, from enrichment clubs to structured wraparound, appear organised and consistent.

Best suited to families who want a Catholic primary experience, strong academic fundamentals, and a well-defined community ethos, and who are prepared to handle a competitive admissions process carefully.