St Catherine Catholic Primary School Review 2026: A small Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes and a busy clubs programme

“Living life to the full” sits at the centre of school life here, and it shows up in day to day routines as much as it does in headline priorities. As a one form entry primary with an on site nursery and a Published Admissions Number of 30 for Reception, the community feel is naturally tight, with many families getting to know staff well across several years.

Academic outcomes at Key Stage 2 are a clear strength in the most recent published data, and the school’s overall position places it comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England. Admissions demand, however, is the limiting factor. Reception entry is oversubscribed, with nearly three applications per place in the most recent admissions data.

The latest Ofsted inspection (21 and 22 November 2023) judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding for Personal Development.

There is a strong sense of continuity between parish and school, which is unsurprising given the school’s origins. In 1868, Fr Michael Wren built a small schoolroom behind the newly built church and St Catherine School was established, after Catholic children had initially been educated in a cottage in Money Lane. The history matters because it explains the tone, faith is not an add on, it is the organising principle.

That Catholic identity is described in practical terms rather than slogans. Admissions documentation is explicit that Catholic doctrine and practice permeate the school’s activity, and families are expected to support the ethos fully. A Catholic Life newsletter also points to school based pupil leadership around prayer and liturgy (for example, a Power of Prayer Group), alongside regular links with the local parish.

A newer leadership chapter has begun. The current headteacher is Mr Thomas Booth, and he took up the headteacher post in September 2025. That timing is useful context for parents reading inspection findings from late 2023, as the school’s current direction is likely to be shaped by priorities set after the inspection.

This is a school where the Key Stage 2 picture is easy to explain to parents because the headline indicators line up. In 2024, 78.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 25% reached greater depth in reading, writing and maths, versus an England average of 8%. (Figures are presented as percentages of the cohort.)

Scaled scores are also high. Reading and maths both sit at 108, with grammar, punctuation and spelling at 106. These are the kinds of scores typically associated with confident foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Year 6.

Rankings reinforce that story. Ranked 3,022nd in England and 21st in Hillingdon for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), performance sits above England average, placing it comfortably within the top 25% of schools in England.

The implication for families is straightforward. Pupils who respond well to clear routines and consistent expectations are likely to do well here, particularly those who benefit from a structured approach to reading and maths from the earliest years.

Early reading is treated as a priority from the start of Reception, and phonics is positioned as a non negotiable foundation rather than one strand among many. That matters in practice because it tends to reduce the number of pupils who drift into Key Stage 2 without fluent decoding, which then frees teachers to focus on comprehension, vocabulary, and wider reading stamina.

Curriculum design is described in terms of building knowledge over time, with clear expectations for vocabulary and what pupils should remember. The broader curriculum is intended to be ambitious, and adaptations for pupils with additional needs are part of the plan rather than a separate track.

There is, however, one important caveat for parents who care about breadth as much as test results. The most recent inspection highlights that, in a few foundation subjects, teaching expertise has not always supported pupils to develop subject knowledge in sufficient depth. Leaders have prioritised staff training to strengthen subject expertise, and this is a sensible area for parents to explore in visits and conversations, especially if your child is particularly motivated by humanities, arts, or wider topic work.

As a state primary, progression at Year 6 typically reflects a mix of family preference, faith pathway, distance, and local authority allocations rather than a single “destination list”.

For Catholic secondary transfer in the Diocese of Westminster, one local option families often consider is The Douay Martyrs Catholic School in Hillingdon. For non faith, all ability secondary provision in the broader area, Park Academy West London is another nearby option in the borough (years 11 to 18).

A practical way to approach this is to short list two or three realistic secondaries early, then use FindMySchool’s Saved Schools feature to keep notes on admissions criteria, travel time, and how each setting might suit your child’s temperament.

Reception entry is competitive. In the most recent admissions data, there were 87 applications for 30 offers, which equates to about 2.9 applications per place. First preference demand also exceeded places, which is consistent with a school that attracts committed local families.

Applications follow the coordinated process. For September 2026 Reception entry, the school’s Published Admissions Number is 30, and the Common Application Form deadline is 15 January 2026, with offers released on 16 April 2026.

Because this is a voluntary aided Catholic school, there is also an additional layer for many applicants. The school requires completion of a Supplementary Information Form, and it references a Certificate of Catholic Practice or evidence of faith worship where relevant. The deadline for supplementary documents is aligned with the local authority deadline.

Nursery admissions are handled separately from Reception. The nursery provision accommodates up to 24 children in the classroom at any one time, with both 15 hour and 30 hour patterns described. Government funded hours are available for eligible families. For nursery fee details, including any top up arrangements, use the nursery admissions information on the school website.

If you are weighing chances of admission, FindMySchool’s Map Search is useful for visualising your likely competition set, particularly when you compare your location against other Catholic primaries in the borough.

Pastoral work is woven through routines rather than delivered only through interventions. The language around kindness, respect, and belonging is consistent across school documents and external reporting, and personal development has been treated as a distinct area of strength.

Support for pupils with additional needs is framed as early identification and practical classroom adaptation, not as a narrow SEND corner. There is also evidence of working with outside agencies to support wellbeing and vulnerable families, which is often a strong indicator of joined up pastoral systems in a small primary.

The second headline point parents will want to know is safeguarding. The November 2023 Ofsted report states that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Clubs and pupil leadership are major pillars, and there is a useful mix of enrichment, sport, and responsibility.

Clubs and enrichment

The Ofsted report notes clubs such as Irish dancing, chess, and professional netball coaching, and it highlights strong take up. A current example of the structured programme is the Spring 2026 clubs timetable, which includes Lego, Outdoor Games, Football, Multisport, Indoor Athletics, Musical Theatre, and Arts and Crafts.

Pupil responsibility

School Council includes pupils from Years 1 to 6, with two representatives per year group, and meetings are held once per half term to feed pupil voice into leadership and governors. “Learners as Leaders” adds practical roles such as Reading Coaches, Maths Coach, and Digital Leaders, which helps turn responsibility into a normal part of school culture rather than a badge for a small group.

Sport and competition

The school competes in football, netball, cross country, rounders, swimming gala events, and athletics, and it reports notable competition successes, including football league wins in 2020 and 2022 and District Sports champions in 2023. The School Games Mark Gold award also signals sustained commitment to sport and competition across the year.

Trips and wider experience

Trips are mapped by year group, for example Year 2 to Windsor Castle and Year 3 to Verulamium Museum in St Albans, with a residential trip in Year 6. Music and drama includes singing performances in church and school events, plus regular visits to Burroughs Care Centre to entertain residents.

The main school day for Reception to Year 6 runs from 8.30am to 3.00pm, equating to 32.5 hours per week including lunch. Breakfast Club runs from 7.45am to 8.30am, and After School Club runs from 3.00pm to 6.00pm, with booking required. Nursery sessions are offered in morning, afternoon, or all day patterns, and government funded hours apply for eligible families.

For travel, West Drayton rail station is a key local connection on the Elizabeth line, and many families will find it supports commuting and drop off planning.

• Competitive Reception entry. With nearly three applications per place in the most recent admissions data, securing entry is the main hurdle, especially for families relying on a single preferred school.

• Catholic admissions expectations. This is a voluntary aided Catholic school, and the admissions approach expects families to support the ethos fully. For many applicants, supplementary documents are part of the process.

• Breadth in a few foundation subjects. The latest inspection identifies that, in some wider curriculum areas, teaching expertise has not always developed pupils’ knowledge in sufficient depth. If your child is driven by topic learning beyond English and maths, ask how staff development is addressing this.

• Leadership transition timing. The current headteacher began in September 2025, after the November 2023 inspection. Families may want to understand what has changed, and what is intentionally being kept the same.

St Catherine Catholic Primary School suits families who want a clearly Catholic education, a small school feel, and strong Key Stage 2 outcomes. Pupils who thrive on routine, consistent expectations, and structured early literacy are likely to benefit. The challenge lies in admission rather than what follows, so families should approach the process with a realistic plan B and use tools like Saved Schools to keep the shortlist organised.