Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School

A small, one-form entry Catholic primary with a clear community feel, and results that sit comfortably above England averages. In the most recent published Key Stage 2 data, a high proportion of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, with a notably strong showing at the higher standard too. The school is oversubscribed at Reception entry, and the Catholic character is woven into admissions as well as daily life, so families should read the criteria carefully and plan early.

Leadership has been stable in recent years. Mrs Gillian Hood has been headteacher since September 2019, a detail confirmed in the most recent Ofsted inspection report and in the parish announcement of her appointment.

For parents, the practical appeal is obvious. The school day timings are clearly published, wraparound care runs from 8am to 6pm, and there is a defined pathway for nursery, Reception and in-year entry.

The strongest theme running through the school’s own materials is warmth, and a deliberate emphasis on relationships between pupils, families, and staff. That comes through not just as a slogan, but in the way the school describes its pastoral approach and the balance it aims for between personal wellbeing and academic success.

As a Roman Catholic voluntary aided school, faith is not an add-on. It shapes assemblies, religious education, and the everyday language of the community. The school’s published mission language focuses on worship, learning, and play as a shared whole, which usually lands best with families who want a clear Catholic identity while still valuing the school’s stated welcome to families of other faiths, or none.

The early years offer is also part of the school’s character. The published approach highlights learning through play, regular access to outdoor provision, and close partnership with parents and carers, including the use of digital platforms for sharing learning. For a child who thrives with routine and a consistent key adult team, that combination of structured day and play-based learning can be a strong fit.

Leadership stability matters in primaries because it often drives consistency in curriculum and behaviour. Mrs Gillian Hood’s tenure, stated as beginning in September 2019, provides a clear anchor for families trying to understand the school’s recent trajectory.

This is a primary with performance that reads as securely above average in England terms, and strong within its local authority.

In the most recent Key Stage 2, 83.33% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. The England average is 62%, so the gap is substantial. At the higher standard, 23.67% achieved the higher threshold compared with an England average of 8%, suggesting the school does not only lift pupils to the expected level, but also stretches a meaningful group beyond it.

The scaled score profile supports that impression. Reading is 106, maths is 108, and grammar, punctuation and spelling is 108, a set of figures that typically indicates secure mastery rather than borderline performance. (As always, cohorts vary year to year, but the pattern is consistent with a school that teaches core skills explicitly.)

On the FindMySchool rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 719th in England for academic primary outcomes and 16th in Enfield overall, placing it comfortably within the strongest band of primaries in England. (FindMySchool ranking.)

What this means for parents is practical. Pupils are likely to leave Year 6 with solid literacy and numeracy foundations, and a higher-than-usual chance of being well prepared for the step up to Key Stage 3, particularly in maths and technical accuracy in writing.

The curriculum is presented as broad and deliberately enriched, with a clear focus on the basics in early reading and maths. The school prospectus describes daily English and maths, daily phonics in Years 1 and 2, and a structured phonics programme to secure early decoding and fluency.

One differentiator is the use of specialist teachers in PE, Spanish and Music across the school. In a small primary, specialist teaching can raise the ceiling in those subjects and improve consistency, particularly in music and languages where staff confidence varies widely between schools. For pupils, that often translates into clearer progression, stronger technical teaching (for example in rhythm, singing, or language pronunciation), and more opportunities for performance or structured sport.

In early years, the school describes a play-led approach with planned adult-led and child-initiated activities, plus a strong emphasis on outdoor learning as an everyday entitlement rather than an occasional add-on. For children who need movement, talk, and hands-on exploration to learn well, this can make Reception and nursery feel purposeful rather than purely desk-based.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (October 2021) retained the school’s Good judgement and noted a strong focus on pupil wellbeing alongside achievement, which aligns closely with the school’s own messaging about balancing care and academic outcomes.

As a primary, the main transition point is into local secondary schools at Year 7. The school publishes a dedicated secondary transfer area for parents, which is a helpful signal that transition is treated as a process rather than a single application event.

For families thinking ahead, there are three practical pathways to consider.

First, many pupils will move into local mainstream secondary schools within Enfield and neighbouring boroughs. In that scenario, the value is in steady preparation for Key Stage 3, particularly reading fluency and maths confidence.

Second, some families in Catholic primaries prioritise Catholic secondary options. Because the school has a clear Catholic identity and parish links, families often plan several years ahead, especially where supplementary forms, faith evidence, or parish practice can affect admissions priority.

Third, a minority of pupils may explore selective or partially selective routes where relevant. The school does not position itself as a test-preparation centre, but strong core outcomes and a culture of reading for pleasure can still be an advantage for children sitting competitive assessments, provided families keep the pressure proportionate.

If destinations data such as Russell Group or university progression is a priority, this is not relevant at primary level. The more useful question is whether pupils leave Year 6 as confident readers, secure writers, and competent mathematicians. The published outcomes suggest they do.

This is a high-demand school, and its admissions are best understood as a combination of local authority coordination and school-based faith criteria.

Reception entry for September 2026

For Reception entry, the application process is described as two-part. Parents apply through Enfield’s coordinated system, and also complete the school’s Supplementary Information Form with the required evidence. For Reception entry in September 2027 in Enfield, applications close on 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027.

Enfield’s published admissions information also confirms 15 January 2027 as the closing date for on-time primary applications for September 2027 entry.

Offer timing is also important for planning. Enfield’s published criteria documentation indicates parents are advised of outcomes on or about 16 April 2027, consistent with the national primary offer period.

Oversubscription and competition

Nursery admissions

Nursery admissions are governed separately. The nursery admissions policy is explicit that a nursery place does not guarantee later admission to the main school, and that the governing body applies similar oversubscription principles when demand exceeds places. The policy also sets out funded part-time nursery hours and the availability of longer sessions for eligible working families, so parents should read it in full early in the year before entry.

Catholic character in admissions

Because this is a Catholic school, admissions prioritisation links closely to faith evidence, parish connection, and sibling criteria. Families who want a place should be ready to supply the correct documentation by the stated deadlines, and should treat the supplementary form as essential rather than optional.

A practical tip: if you are comparing several local schools with distance-sensitive criteria, use the FindMySchool Map Search to check your home-to-school distance accurately before relying on any one option.

Pastoral care is presented as a core strength. The school explicitly frames wellbeing and academic outcomes as linked, and the most recent Ofsted inspection report supports that picture by describing a culture where pupils feel settled and supported, while still being expected to do well in their subjects.

For parents, the day-to-day indicators that matter are routines, consistency, and communication. A published, structured school day helps children who benefit from predictability, and wraparound care being delivered by school staff can support continuity for children who find change difficult at the start or end of the day.

Safeguarding is always the baseline question. The most recent Ofsted report is the appropriate starting point for families who want an official view of safeguarding culture and the school’s wider provision.

The co-curricular offer is unusually clear for a small primary because the school publishes an enrichment clubs list and a defined wraparound programme.

From the published enrichment list for Summer 2025, clubs include Gardening Club, Drama Club, Multi Sports Club, Chess Club, and Newspaper Club, alongside Football Club. Named clubs matter because they show the school is offering variety beyond a single sports lane. A gardening club can suit pupils who prefer calm, hands-on activities; a newspaper club can appeal to confident writers and curious readers; drama gives stage time to children who may not be the keenest athletes.

Wraparound care is a practical plus and also part of the wider enrichment picture. The school states that breakfast club runs from 8am, after-school club runs from 3.15pm to 6pm, and that staff running the clubs are the school’s own team, so children are supported by familiar adults. For working families, that continuity can be as valuable as the hours themselves.

Music and languages also appear to be treated as more than occasional extras. The prospectus states that specialist staff deliver music and Spanish, which often correlates with better progression and more consistent provision across year groups.

The published school day timings are straightforward: gates open 8.45am, the day starts 9am, and the day ends 3.15pm.

Wraparound care extends the day significantly. Breakfast club starts at 8am and after-school club runs to 6pm.

For travel, TfL’s nearby transport listing for The Limes Avenue highlights Arnos Grove station as a key local connection, with multiple bus routes shown nearby. For families who commute, that can make drop-off and pick-up more manageable, though parking restrictions can apply locally at certain times.

Food provision is also clearly explained. Reception to Year 2 pupils are entitled to universal infant free school meals, and the school states that Years 3 to 6 receive free school meals under the current London-wide offer, reviewed annually.

• Oversubscription is real. The available admissions data shows 75 applications for 26 offers at the relevant entry route, which is close to three applications per place. Families should keep a realistic Plan B list.

• Catholic admissions criteria need careful reading. Supplementary forms, parish connection, and faith evidence can materially affect priority. Families who are not practising Catholics should check where they are likely to fall in the oversubscription order before committing emotionally to a single option.

• Nursery is not a guaranteed route into Reception. The nursery admissions policy is explicit that a nursery place does not guarantee admission to the main school. For families using nursery as a stepping stone, this is a key risk to plan around.

• Inspection currency. The latest Ofsted inspection is October 2021. Families may want to triangulate with the school’s current priorities and published information, particularly if they are looking for evidence of recent developments since that inspection cycle.

A high-demand Catholic primary that combines clear pastoral intent with strong Key Stage 2 outcomes and an unusually well-defined wraparound offer. It suits families who actively want a Roman Catholic school community, value a small-school feel, and are prepared to engage carefully with admissions requirements and deadlines. The main limiting factor is competition for places, so shortlisting should be realistic and organised early.