Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London Review 2026: Faith-Led Education in North London

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School occupies two sites in Holloway, with its main building on Georges Road and a newer facility at St. Margaret Mary, opened in 2015, which houses Year 5 and Year 6. The school welcomed 454 pupils aged 3 to 11 in a mixed voluntary aided setting under the Diocese of Westminster. Mr. John Lane serves as Executive Headteacher, leading a community where faith, values, and inclusion sit at the heart of daily life. With nursery provision from age 3, the school's mission is "to go forward together in Christ, to respect our neighbour, and to always give our best." While admissions are oversubscribed—with 94 applications for 52 Reception places—the school explicitly welcomes families of all faiths and none into its warm community. Ofsted rated the school Good in October 2022, and its previous Outstanding rating from 2009 reflects a long-standing commitment to Catholic education in North London.

At Sacred Heart, Catholic values of kindness, respect, and care shape every aspect of school life, from the classroom to the playground. The school supports each child's academic, personal, and spiritual development within a framework that is both rooted in faith and genuinely inclusive. Families of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcomed into the community, a stance that reflects the school's understanding of its role in the diverse Holloway neighbourhood. The two-site arrangement, with younger pupils on Georges Road and the oldest children at St. Margaret Mary, creates distinct developmental spaces while maintaining a unified ethos. Daily prayer, collective worship, and close links with the Diocese of Westminster underpin the school's spiritual identity, yet the atmosphere is described as warm and nurturing rather than rigid or exclusive. The school's mission statement—emphasising forward progress together, respect for neighbours, and giving one's best—is woven through assemblies, lessons, and enrichment activities.

Sacred Heart's most recent Key Stage 2 results show 68% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and mathematics combined, above the national average of 62%. In individual subjects, 71% met expectations in reading, 60% in mathematics, and 73% in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. The school's average scaled scores were 103 in reading, 102 in mathematics, and 104 in grammar. Higher attainment rates include 16% of pupils achieving the higher standard across reading, writing, and maths, double the national average of 8%. Science performance is solid, with 80% reaching the expected standard, just below the national figure of 82%. These results rank the school 36th locally within Islington and place it in the mid-to-lower national percentiles, reflecting a diverse pupil population that includes significant numbers of children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school adopts a Quality First Teaching model for all pupils, including those with special educational needs, and 9% of pupils have SEN support or Education, Health and Care plans. External partnerships bolster this support: Place2Be provides mental health and emotional wellbeing services, Islington CAMHS offers specialist assessments for ADHD and autism every Tuesday morning, and two dedicated Speech and Language Therapists work across the age range. Leaders collaborate closely with parents and external agencies to identify barriers to learning and tailor interventions accordingly.

Enrichment clubs at Sacred Heart run on a six-weekly basis each term, planned alongside the curriculum to develop skills across many areas. The school's partnership with Junior Adventures Group brings morning and after-school programmes, including Magical Science Mondays, Team Play Tuesdays, Creative Minds Wednesdays, Move & Groove Thursdays, and Fun With Food Fridays. A breakfast club operates from 8.00am, and the main school day runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm. The two-site structure provides age-appropriate facilities: the main building on Georges Road houses nursery through Year 4, while the St. Margaret Mary site offers dedicated spaces for the oldest pupils. This arrangement allows for tailored environments and a sense of progression as children move through the school. The school encourages families to visit at any time for tours, reflecting confidence in the daily life and atmosphere visible within its buildings.

Sacred Heart operates on the principle that all teachers are teachers of children with special educational needs. The school follows a whole-school approach to SEND, with all staff committed to Quality First Teaching and inclusive practice. Leaders work closely with parents and external agencies to identify and address barriers to learning. Support is multi-layered: Place2Be offers emotional support, with Place2Talk available at lunchtimes for pupils dealing with friendship issues, worries, or low confidence. Islington CAMHS provides specialist support every Tuesday morning for children struggling with relationships, bereavement, stress, or those requiring assessments for ADHD and autism. Two Speech and Language Therapists—one for Early Years and one for children over five—work regularly in school. Ofsted has noted that disabled pupils and those with special educational needs make good progress, often outperforming their peers nationally. The school's SEN rate stands at 9%, and leaders maintain close partnerships with families to ensure each child receives the necessary support within a fully inclusive environment.

Sacred Heart is a voluntary aided Catholic school, and the governing body sets its own admissions criteria, prioritising Catholic practice within a defined framework. The school admits 60 children to Reception each year and is consistently oversubscribed. For the most recent intake, 94 applications were received for 52 offers, yielding a subscription ratio of 1.81. All first-preference applicants who met the criteria were offered places, indicating that the oversubscription is managed through faith-based and geographical priority rather than extreme competition. As a Catholic school, admissions criteria typically include categories for looked-after children, baptised Catholic children with evidence of church attendance, siblings, children of other Christian denominations, and finally children of other faiths or none, with distance used as a tiebreaker within each category. Applications are made through Islington Council's coordinated admissions process, with detailed oversubscription criteria published annually on the school's website and the local authority's admissions portal. Parents considering Sacred Heart are advised to review the specific criteria carefully, particularly requirements around baptism certificates and priest references, which are standard for Catholic voluntary aided schools. The school's inclusive ethos means families of all backgrounds are genuinely welcomed, but meeting the faith criteria significantly improves admission prospects. Prospective parents can contact the school on 020 7607 3407 or visit the admissions page for current arrangements and deadlines.

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School offers a distinctive blend of faith-centred education and inclusive community values in the heart of Holloway. Its two-site structure, recent Good Ofsted rating, and above-average results in key areas reflect a school that balances tradition with a practical, welcoming approach to diverse modern families. For Catholic families seeking a nurturing environment rooted in shared values, and for families of other faiths or none who appreciate the school's ethos and inclusive stance, Sacred Heart provides a strong foundation. The comprehensive SEN support, enrichment programmes, and close partnerships with external agencies demonstrate a school committed to the whole child, not just academic outcomes. Oversubscription is real but manageable for those who meet the faith criteria, and the school's transparency about its admissions process helps parents make informed decisions. Sacred Heart serves its Holloway community with consistency, care, and a clear sense of purpose, making it a valued option for North London families seeking a Catholic primary education with a genuinely warm welcome.

Is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London a good school?

Ofsted rated Sacred Heart Good in October 2022, and the school's Key Stage 2 results are above the national average, with 68% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined compared to 62% nationally. The school's inclusive approach to SEN, strong pastoral support through Place2Be and CAMHS, and enrichment programmes contribute to a rounded education. Parents value the Catholic ethos and the welcoming atmosphere for families of all faiths and none.

How do I apply to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London?

Applications are made through Islington Council's coordinated admissions process. The school admits 60 children to Reception each year and is oversubscribed, so meeting the Catholic admissions criteria—including baptism certificates and evidence of church attendance—is important. The school welcomes families of all faiths and none, but faith-based priority applies. Detailed oversubscription criteria are published annually on the school's website and Islington Council's admissions portal. Contact the school on 020 7607 3407 or visit www.sacredheart.islington.sch.uk/admissions for current arrangements and deadlines.

What are the school hours at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London?

The main school day runs from 8.45am to 3.30pm. A breakfast club opens from 8.00am, and after-school programmes are available through Junior Adventures Group, offering activities such as Magical Science Mondays, Team Play Tuesdays, and Creative Minds Wednesdays.

Does Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London have a nursery?

Yes, the school has nursery provision from age 3, allowing children to begin their education within the Sacred Heart community before Reception entry.

What SEN support does Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London provide?

The school adopts a whole-school approach to SEND, with all staff trained in Quality First Teaching. External partnerships include Place2Be for emotional and mental health support, Islington CAMHS for specialist assessments every Tuesday morning, and two Speech and Language Therapists covering Early Years and older children. The SEN rate is 9%, and Ofsted notes that pupils with SEND make good progress, often exceeding their peers nationally.