Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Review 2026: High-achieving Catholic primary with strong early years

High attainment is the headline here, but the way it is achieved matters just as much. Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School pairs ambitious expectations with an organised, supportive culture, including structured celebration routines and a wide programme of responsibilities for pupils. The most recent inspection (24 to 25 September 2024) graded Quality of education as Good, Personal development as Outstanding, and Early years provision as Outstanding.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 outcomes are exceptionally strong. In 2024, 91.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, far above the England average of 62%. Reading, mathematics and grammar, punctuation and spelling scaled scores are also well ahead of typical national benchmarks.

For families, the practical implication is clear: this is a popular, oversubscribed primary. Reception entry is competitive, and for a voluntary aided Catholic school, faith-based criteria can be a significant part of the admissions picture. In 2024, there were 166 applications for 59 offers for the main entry route shown here.

The school’s culture is framed around pride in achievement and clear routines. Weekly celebration assemblies are used to recognise attainment and showcase pupils’ interests, which helps create a tone where effort is visible and valued. That does not mean the experience is only academic. Pupils are given a broad set of opportunities to explore talents through clubs and inter-school competitions, with leaders emphasising inclusion so that participation is not limited to a small group.

The Catholic identity is central rather than cosmetic. The school sits under the Archdiocese of Westminster, and this is reflected in how community life is described, including the emphasis on respect, relationships and a shared moral language across year groups. For families who value a faith community and a clear set of social expectations, that coherence will be a draw.

Leadership stability is another defining feature. The September 2024 inspection lists the headteacher as Jennifer McGinty. A governing-board document published on the school site indicates she was first appointed on 01 September 2014, which suggests long-term continuity in day-to-day direction and institutional memory.

The results profile is unusually strong for a state primary, and it is not based on a single metric. In 2024, 91.67% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 42.33% achieved greater depth across reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores are similarly high. Reading was 109, mathematics 110, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 111, each well above typical national reference points. The combined reading, mathematics and grammar score totals 330.

In FindMySchool rankings based on official data, the school is ranked 472nd in England for primary outcomes, and 9th within Hammersmith and Fulham. That places it well above England average performance, within the top 10% of schools in England, and closer to the top 3% on the underlying percentile calculation.

Parents comparing options locally should use the FindMySchool Local Hub page and Comparison Tool to view these results alongside nearby schools that may differ in ethos, admissions rules, or wraparound availability.

The curriculum is set out so that knowledge builds in sequence from early years through to Year 6, with explicit examples of how early learning supports later concepts. For instance, foundational work with shapes and patterns in the early years is intended to support later learning about symmetry and angles.

Teaching practice is strongest where subject content is clearly prioritised and revisited routinely, supported by checks that identify misconceptions early. Staff training is strengthened through external input and collaboration with specialists, and this is used to support secure delivery across most subjects. Pupils with special educational needs and disabilities are expected to learn the curriculum alongside peers, with adaptations and additional help where needed.

The main teaching challenge identified in the most recent inspection is consistency across a small number of subjects. In those areas, key knowledge is not always emphasised strongly enough and assessment checks are not consistently aligned to the most important content, so gaps can persist longer than they should. For parents, this is less a warning about overall quality and more a reminder that the school’s strongest results come from a culture of clarity and precision, and leaders will be expected to apply that consistently across the full curriculum.

Reading is a clear strength. Daily story routines begin early, and phonics teaching is structured so that reading books match the sounds pupils know, enabling rapid confidence-building rather than guesswork. Published outcomes in reading are described as well above national expectations.

As a primary school, the key transition is into secondary education, and families typically plan ahead well before Year 6, particularly in London where demand can be intense. The school’s emphasis on academic habits, reading confidence, and pupils taking responsibility for their community will translate well into both Catholic and non-faith secondaries.

For families focused on a Catholic pathway, it is sensible to look early at the admissions criteria and distances for local Catholic secondary options, then work backwards to understand what evidence or supplementary forms may be required. Planning early reduces last-minute pressure in Year 6.

This is an oversubscribed school for the main entry route shown. For the most recent Reception-cycle demand figures provided here, there were 166 applications and 59 offers, a ratio of 2.81 applications per place. That level of demand usually means families should approach admissions strategically and assume that not everyone who applies will be offered a place.

As a voluntary aided Catholic primary, the admissions process is likely to include faith-based criteria and supporting evidence for some applicants, alongside local-authority coordination for Reception. Families should read the school’s current admissions arrangements carefully and ensure any supplementary documents are submitted by the relevant deadline, because late paperwork can be decisive in faith-based allocations.

For Reception entry in this borough, local-authority guidance for the September 2026 intake indicates applications open on 01 September 2025 and close on 15 January 2026, with offers on the national offer day of 16 April 2026.

Open events appear to run on an annual cycle across late autumn and early spring. In the 2025 to 26 cycle, the school listed open-day sessions in December 2025 and January 2026, and noted that places were fully booked, which is a useful indicator of demand for tours as well as places.

Because “last distance offered” data is not provided here, families who are considering a move should use the FindMySchool Map Search tool to check their home-to-school distance accurately, then compare it with any published distance information released by the borough or the school in future allocations.

Pastoral support is visible in how pupils are encouraged to understand relationships, manage emotions, and support others. Structured opportunities such as pupil roles (including digital leaders and playground buddies) are used to build responsibility and community contribution.

The school also builds emotional literacy directly into routine, including regular “Talk time” sessions to help pupils express feelings and address problems early. In practice, this tends to suit pupils who respond well to predictable routines and clear expectations, and it can be reassuring for families who want wellbeing to be part of the mainstream day rather than an add-on.

Safeguarding is a baseline question for any parent, and the September 2024 inspection states that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

The extracurricular programme is used not just for enrichment but as part of the school’s identity. Clubs referenced in the most recent inspection include gymnastics, science, football and fencing, alongside inter-school competitions. The implication is that pupils can try a mix of physical, academic and skills-based activities without being locked into a narrow set of options.

Competitive sport appears to be an active strand of school life, supported by participation beyond internal clubs, including football fixtures and team activity referenced in school communications. This can be particularly valuable for pupils who thrive on representing their school and working towards external milestones.

School-day routines are clearly communicated. An attendance policy published by the school states pupils should arrive by 8.55am. A separate school guidance page indicates school gates open at 3.05pm at the end of the day.

Wraparound care appears to be available. A provider listing for the site indicates before-school provision from 07:45 to 08:45 and after-school provision from 15:20 to 18:00 during the academic year. Families should confirm availability and booking requirements directly, as places for wraparound can be as competitive as school tours.

• Competition for places. Demand data shows 2.81 applications per offered place for the main entry route shown here, which signals a realistic chance of disappointment for some applicants. Have a robust set of alternative choices.

• Faith-based admissions criteria. As a voluntary aided Catholic school, admissions can depend on evidence and supplementary paperwork for some applicants. Families who are not practising Catholics should read the criteria early and plan accordingly.

• High attainment, high expectations. The academic profile is very strong. That often suits pupils who like challenge and structured goals, but some children may prefer a less performance-focused environment.

• Curriculum consistency across all subjects. The latest inspection highlights that a small number of subjects need tighter emphasis on key knowledge and more consistent checking. Parents may want to ask how improvements are being implemented.

Larmenier & Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School combines unusually strong Key Stage 2 outcomes with a culture that treats personal development, responsibility and emotional literacy as core, not optional. It will suit families seeking a Catholic primary with ambitious standards, a structured school day, and a wide mix of clubs and pupil leadership roles. The main hurdle is admission, so families should plan early, attend open events where possible, and keep alternatives in play.