Good Shepherd RC Primary School Review 2026: Top 2% Primary with Outstanding Catholic Character

In the heart of Shepherds Bush, where the neighbourhood's Catholic mission traces back to 1891, the Good Shepherd stands as a beacon of academic excellence and faith-rooted community. The school sits in the top 2% of primaries in England for learning outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), with 94% of pupils reaching expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics by Year 6. Mrs Imogen Lavelle, the school's headteacher, leads a small but mighty institution of 236 pupils aged 3 to 11, spanning nursery provision through to Year 6. The school's Outstanding Ofsted rating from July 2024 reflects what parents observe daily: an intensely academic environment where children progress with remarkable speed, secured within a community built explicitly around Catholic values and active Church life.

The Good Shepherd is profoundly oversubscribed. In the most recent admissions cycle, 128 families applied for just 30 places, a subscription ratio of 4.27 to one. This competition reflects both the school's reputation for academic rigour and the scarcity of first-rate primary places in West London. For families able to secure entry, the reward is an education that combines disciplined teaching with genuine warmth and a parish connection that extends learning beyond the classroom walls.

Walk past the gates in early morning and you notice the rhythm immediately. Pupils stream in with purpose. Staff greet them by name. Breakfast club has been running since 7:45am, with approximately 40 children eating together and beginning their day purposefully. By 8:55am, the school has settled into its core day, and the atmosphere becomes one of focused industry.

The Catholic identity is not nominal. The liturgical calendar structures the year. Mass happens regularly, not as an occasional event but as woven into the rhythm of school life. Pupils in each year group are organised into classes named after saints: Nursery children are in St Anthony of Padua, Year 1 pupils in St Raphael the Angel, Year 6 in St Stephen. This naming convention roots every child in a saint's story and presence. Prayer opens and closes lessons. The chaplaincy team meets with pupils for spiritual development. Most significantly, families feel the school's commitment to educating what staff describe as the "whole child," which translates into genuine pastoral attention to wellbeing alongside academic ambition.

The curriculum is deliberately ambitious. Reading is prioritised from Reception onwards, with structured phonics teaching and careful monitoring of progress. Teachers are consistently described in external assessments as having high subject knowledge, particularly in core areas of mathematics and English. The most recent inspection noted that pupils are supported quickly when they struggle, through targeted interventions that begin early. Behaviour is genuinely exemplary. The school community values respect, kindness and service, and these values shape how pupils conduct themselves. Year 6 pupils moving into the community of secondary schools become known for their maturity and courtesy.

The physical space is compact but thoughtfully used. A single-form entry school (one class per year), the Good Shepherd occupies a modest Victorian building site on Gayford Road. The school has invested in learning environments that support its teaching philosophy: dedicated spaces for guided reading, manipulatives for mathematical reasoning, and outdoor provision even within the tight urban footprint. The nursery operates within the main school building, allowing the youngest pupils to move gradually into the primary environment.

Key Stage 2 Performance

In 2024, 94% of pupils achieved the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 62%. This places the school 348th in England (FindMySchool ranking), putting it among the highest-performing primaries in the country.

The breakdown reveals particular strengths in technical literacy and mathematical thinking. In reading, 96% met expected standards (England average: approximately 82%), with a scaled score of 111 (England average: 100). In mathematics, 96% achieved expected standards, with a scaled score of 110. Grammar, punctuation and spelling saw 89% at expected standard, 54% at greater depth, showing careful language instruction across the curriculum.

The higher standard performance further distinguishes the school's outcomes. Across reading, writing and mathematics combined, 55% of pupils achieved greater depth, compared to the England average of approximately 8%. This concentration of deeper achievement reflects the school's teaching philosophy: pupils are not simply moved through content, but taught to understand and apply ideas with nuance and flexibility.

The school's local ranking is equally striking. Within Hammersmith and Fulham, the Good Shepherd ranks 6th among all state primaries, a position it has held consistently. This consistency matters; it suggests the school's results are systemic, not anomalous.

Progress and Consistency

The school deliberately avoids the appearance of "hothousing." Pupils are not coached intensively toward particular test formats. Instead, the teaching method emphasises deep understanding: regular checks for comprehension, swift correction of misunderstandings, and high expectations applied consistently. This approach produces sustained outcomes across year groups and across different ability ranges within the school.

The curriculum at the Good Shepherd is subject-based, not topic-driven. This means pupils study discrete subjects — mathematics, English, science, history, geography, art, music — each with a carefully sequenced programme of study. Within each subject, pupils work toward clearly defined knowledge and skills targets.

Reading receives exceptional prominence. From Reception, children engage in daily phonics instruction, delivered by well-trained staff who monitor individual progress meticulously. Books are carefully matched to the phase of phonics the child has reached. As pupils progress through Year 1 and beyond, the focus shifts gradually from decoding to comprehension and inference. By Year 6, pupils are reading challenging texts and can discuss authorial intent and literary devices with genuine understanding.

Mathematics is taught through a mastery approach, using concrete manipulatives, pictorial representations, and abstract symbols to develop understanding. Rather than moving quickly through topics, the school ensures pupils have solid foundations before progression. This slowing-down approach — sometimes frustrating for parents accustomed to faster coverage — creates more secure learning. Pupils who may initially struggle in mathematics are identified early and supported through additional teaching by well-trained teaching assistants.

Science is taught as a discrete subject, not embedded within topic work. Pupils conduct practical investigations, observe phenomena, and develop scientific reasoning. The school makes effective use of local resources. Year 6 pupils undertake a residential trip that includes fieldwork, deepening their understanding of ecosystems and geographical change.

Specialist teaching is provided in art, drama, music and physical education, enriching the generalist class teacher model. Spanish is taught to all pupils from Year 1 onwards, building vocabulary and simple conversational skills.

The Good Shepherd feeds primarily into local secondary schools. The most common destination for pupils is Hammersmith and Fulham High School, the nearest non-selective secondary, where pupils typically thrive due to the strong literacy and numeracy foundations laid here.

For families seeking selective education, a significant minority pursue grammar school entry. The school does not formally prepare pupils for the 11-plus; however, some families undertake external tutoring. In recent years, approximately 15% of Year 6 pupils have secured places at Reading School or Kendrick School, London's designated grammar schools. This percentage is notably high when set against the general population success rate, suggesting the school's academic grounding serves pupils well in competitive entrance processes.

The school's strong primary outcomes also position pupils well for entry to highly selective independent secondaries, including Godolphin and Latymer, Latymer Upper, and Arts Educational School, all within reasonable travelling distance. However, the majority of families remain in the state system.

The enrichment programme is significant for a school of this size and resource level. Pupils access clubs throughout the year, with activities changing termly to maintain engagement.

Music: A Central Strength

Music teaching is generalist within the curriculum, delivered by the class teacher, but the school provides instrumental tuition as an additional offering. Pupils can learn violin, cello and other instruments, with peripatetic teachers visiting the school on a regular basis. The school maintains a choir that performs at whole-school celebrations and special liturgies throughout the year. At Christmas, the annual whole-school production integrates music, drama and visual design; recent years have featured staging of traditional narratives with musical accompaniment.

Drama & Performance

The school's approach to drama is integrated throughout the curriculum, with projects tied to the literary texts being studied. Whole-year-group performances happen at key points in the calendar. Year 6 leavers perform a staged production at their leavers' celebration in summer, a rite of passage that builds confidence and celebrates their time at the school.

Art & Design

Visual arts are taught as a discrete subject with a well-planned progression. The school participates in local initiatives, including the Young London Print Prize and arts weeks that bring visiting artists into the school. Work is displayed prominently, and the school has curated annual exhibitions, including a "Spring Ball Exhibition" showcasing visual design across the entire school community.

Sports & Physical Education

Physical education follows the national curriculum, with pupils experiencing invasion games, athletic activities, gymnastics and dance. From Year 1 onwards, the school organises representative teams in major sports including football, netball and athletics. Sports Day is an annual highlight, held at a local sporting venue, where each class competes in activities ranging from traditional races to team challenges.

The school makes use of local facilities to extend physical provision. Access to nearby parks and sporting grounds allows pupils to experience tennis, cricket and other seasonal sports. In summer, Year 6 pupils participate in swimming programmes, building water confidence and teaching strokes systematically.

STEM & Computing

The school teaches computing as a discrete subject, moving from digital literacy and internet safety in the youngest years to coding concepts in upper Key Stage 2. Pupils experiment with sequencing and algorithms, developing computational thinking.

Science enrichment includes a Dissection Society-style activity for older pupils, where pupils explore animal anatomy through carefully supervised practical work, building biological knowledge and fostering curiosity about how living things function.

Academic & Enrichment Clubs

Throughout the academic year, the school offers a rotating selection of clubs including chess, logic puzzles, and coding clubs that extend mathematical thinking beyond the classroom. These are typically led by school staff and selected external providers, running on a termly basis.

Pastoral & Wellbeing

The school's pastoral system centres on the class teacher and a year group team. Each class functions as a community. The school has a dedicated mental health lead and provides counselling for pupils experiencing emotional difficulties. Peer support systems are in place, with older pupils mentoring younger pupils. A formal "School Parliament" gives pupils voice in decision-making, teaching democratic participation and responsibility.

Wrap-Around Care

The school recognises that families need flexible arrangements. Breakfast club operates from 7:45am and is free of charge, removing a logistical burden for working parents. After-school club runs from 3:15pm to 6:15pm, offering activities including arts and crafts, cooking, sports such as tennis and football, reading, and seasonal activities. A snack and drinks are provided each afternoon. Holiday club operates during main school holidays, allowing families to manage childcare during breaks without switching providers.

Good Shepherd is a Voluntary Aided Catholic school within the Archdiocese of Westminster. Admissions are coordinated by Hammersmith and Fulham Local Authority, but the school operates within Catholic admissions criteria.

For Nursery entry (ages 3+), admissions are directly to the school. The nursery is highly oversubscribed, particularly given the limited places available. Families are advised to apply early and to engage with the school about availability.

For Reception entry, places are allocated via the local authority admissions process. The school is fiercely competitive. In the most recent cycle, the school received 128 applications for 30 Reception places. After looked-after children and those with Statements naming the school, places are allocated according to Catholic admissions criteria.

Priority is given to practising Catholic families, evidenced by a baptism certificate and a priest's reference confirming attendance at Mass each Sunday. Baptised Catholic children of non-practising families are considered next, followed by other Christian denominations, and finally families of no specified faith background.

Once established at the Good Shepherd, pupils progress reliably through to Year 6. The school does not have a sixth form, so all pupils move on at age 11.

School hours run from 8:55am to 3:20pm. The school day includes a lunch break supervised by staff, with pupils eating in a central dining area. Packed lunches and school dinners are both options; the catering provider offers balanced meals including vegetarian choices.

The breakfast club (free) begins at 7:45am. After-school club runs until 6:15pm and is charged at a daily rate; many families use this provision on regular days.

Transport: The school is located on Gayford Road, close to Shepherds Bush underground and train stations (Central Line, District Line, Circle Line accessible at Shepherd's Bush; London Overground at Stamford Brook). Parking on Gayford Road is limited and subject to controlled parking zones; most families rely on public transport or walking. The school does not operate a minibus service.

Uniform: The school uniform is compulsory and consists of navy blue, with a school logo, available through the designated supplier.

Oversubscription and proximity. The school is extraordinarily popular and spaces are limited. Admission is not guaranteed even to families living very close to the school. The Catholic admissions criteria mean practising Catholic families have priority. Families without a Catholic affiliation should be realistic about chances of admission and investigate alternatives early.

Pace and intensity. The school's academic programme is fast-moving and expectations are high. Pupils are expected to be independent, to follow instructions carefully, and to focus on work for sustained periods. Children who thrive on structure and clear expectations flourish here. Those who find the pace overwhelming or who need extensive reassurance may find the environment stressful.

Transport and location. The school's location in Shepherds Bush means it serves a dispersed catchment, as families travel from across West London. The school does not operate dedicated transport. Early morning and afternoon routines rely heavily on public transport or walking, which requires planning and punctuality.

Progression to secondary. Whilst pupils from the Good Shepherd are well-prepared academically, the school is small and feeds into a wide range of secondary institutions. There is no "automatic" progression to a linked secondary school. Families should research secondary options early and engage with admissions processes in good time.

The Good Shepherd is an exemplary primary school that succeeds in combining academic rigour with genuine pastoral care and explicit Catholic ethos. For families seeking a school where learning is taken seriously, where behaviour and respect are non-negotiable, and where faith forms an integral part of the educational experience, this is a standout choice. The Ofsted rating of Outstanding reflects what pupils and parents observe: a school where every teacher holds high expectations, where progress is carefully monitored, and where children are known and supported as individuals.

The principal challenge is securing entry. The school receives far more applications than places, and Catholic admissions criteria apply. Families outside the Catholic faith should understand that admission is less likely, however strong their commitment to the school's values.

Best suited to families within the Catholic community seeking an academically ambitious primary education, or to any family genuinely committed to the school's educational and spiritual vision and willing to engage with the admissions process with realistic expectations.