Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Slough Review 2026: Top 10% in England for KS2 outcomes

A large, two-form entry Catholic primary in Langley with a clear sense of direction and results that stand out well beyond the local area. The most recent published key stage 2 outcomes place it well above England averages, and the school is ranked 975th in England and 6th in Slough for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data). Its Catholic identity is not a label for admissions only, it shapes daily routines, expectations, and the way staff talk about character as well as attainment.

Operationally, the school now sits within the St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust, following conversion on 01 September 2024.

This is a school that signals ambition early, not through slogans, but through routines that make expectations feel normal. A rolling start with gates open from 08:40 to 09:00 is a practical example. It reduces the intensity of the morning rush for younger children, and it gives staff more opportunity for calm handovers and quick pastoral check-ins.

Faith is woven into the day rather than kept for special occasions. The most recent denominational review (July 2019) describes prayer and collective worship as integral to daily life, and it reports that the vast majority of pupils were Catholic at the time, with the remainder from other faith backgrounds or none. For families who value a school where Gospel values are used as a shared language for behaviour and service, this consistency matters. For families who prefer a lighter-touch faith presence, it is something to weigh carefully (more on that below).

Leadership is stable, with Mrs Sara Benn named as headteacher on the school’s own website. Publicly available sources confirm the headteacher’s name, but they do not clearly publish an appointment start date. Where dates are not explicitly stated, it is better to treat them as unpublished rather than assume. (What is clear is that Mrs Benn was in post by May 2018, as she is addressed as headteacher in Ofsted correspondence from June 2018.)

The change in governance structure is recent. The school joined St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust on 01 September 2024, and the trust describes itself as the Diocese of Northampton’s “Southern MAT”, formed in February 2020 after a merger of two Catholic trusts. In day-to-day terms, families typically notice this most through policy alignment, consistent safeguarding documentation, and shared admissions frameworks across Catholic schools in the group.

The most recent published key stage 2 data is extremely strong. In 2024, 90.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 33% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%. In science, 86% met the expected standard, compared with an England average of 82%.

The scaled scores also indicate high attainment: reading 109, mathematics 108, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 110. (Scaled scores are reported without an England comparator here because the England average is not supplied in the provided dataset.)

Rankings reinforce the same story. Ranked 975th in England and 6th in Slough for primary outcomes, the school performs well above England average (top 10%). These are proprietary FindMySchool rankings based on official data.

The implication for families is straightforward. Pupils are leaving Year 6 with a strong academic base, and the proportion reaching higher standards suggests that the top end is being stretched rather than capped. That can be a strong fit for children who enjoy challenge, and it also raises the importance of steady pastoral support so that high expectations feel manageable rather than pressurising.

The inspection evidence points to consistent practice rather than a single flagship initiative. The most recent full Ofsted inspection (25 to 26 June 2019) describes teaching as consistently strong, with high expectations and good subject knowledge supported by regular training. That matters because it suggests a school where improvement is systemic, not dependent on one exceptional year group team.

Curriculum breadth is signalled in a few concrete ways. Ofsted’s 2018 short inspection letter notes an increased use of specialist teachers for some subjects, including French and information technology, as a way to strengthen the curriculum. For families, specialist teaching in primary can be a real advantage, it brings subject confidence and can spark early interest in languages and computing.

The school’s own materials emphasise a curriculum intended to “value, challenge and inspire” pupils and to connect learning with the school’s Gospel values. The practical implication is that learning is framed as character formation as well as knowledge acquisition. In a Catholic school, this often shows up in how staff talk about responsibility, service, and dignity alongside academic standards.

Nursery Provision

Nursery provision is a significant part of the school’s offer, and it starts early. The published 2-year-old nursery admissions policy sets a published admission number of 30 part-time equivalent places, and it explicitly references eligibility for 15 and 30 funded hours (where families meet the criteria), with allocation managed through oversubscription rules.

A key point for parents is that nursery is not simply childcare attached to a primary. The same policy sets out that the nursery is Catholic in character, with an expectation that families support the aims and ethos of the setting. That alignment may be a positive for families seeking continuity of values from age 2. It may be less comfortable for families looking for a nursery experience that is faith-neutral.

Nursery fees vary by offer and funding eligibility. For current nursery fee details, use the nursery documentation on the school’s website. Government-funded hours are available for eligible families.

As a Slough primary, the transition conversation is shaped by the town’s unusually wide mix of secondary options, including several grammar schools. Slough Borough Council lists local secondary options including Langley Grammar School, Herschel Grammar School, Upton Court Grammar School, and St Bernard’s Catholic Grammar School, alongside non-selective schools such as The Langley Academy, St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Wexham School, and others.

That variety changes how Year 5 and Year 6 can feel. In some cohorts, a significant share of families will be considering selective entry at 11, while others will be focused on local comprehensive routes. Families should take the time to understand which pathway best fits their child, and use the FindMySchool comparison tools to shortlist realistic options rather than relying on hearsay.

A practical planning point is timing. For Year 7 entry in September 2026, Slough’s on-time application deadline was 31 October 2025. Even if your child is younger than that cohort, the pattern is consistent year to year, autumn deadlines arrive quickly.

Holy Family is oversubscribed in the available admissions data. For the primary entry route, there were 100 applications for 60 offers, a ratio of 1.67 applications per place. First-preference demand was also slightly higher than available offers (1.03), suggesting that many families are listing the school as their top choice.

For Reception, applications sit within Slough’s coordinated admissions scheme. The school’s published policy makes two points parents must not miss:

1. you apply through your home local authority (for Slough residents, that means Slough Borough Council), naming the school on the Common Application Form; and

2. for this Catholic school, a supplementary admission form is also required, returned directly to the school, by the same deadline.

For the September 2026 Reception intake, the on-time deadline was 15 January 2026, with national offer day on 16 April 2026. For future intakes, those dates typically fall in mid-January and mid-April, but parents should always check the local authority page for the current cycle.

Open events and visits matter most in schools with strong demand. The headteacher’s welcome notes that tours for prospective parents take place on Wednesdays throughout November (so, typically a November pattern each year).

Nursery admissions

Nursery admissions are handled separately from Reception, with their own policies and forms. The published 2-year-old nursery admissions policy sets out eligibility windows and priorities, and it makes clear that places are allocated via oversubscription criteria when demand exceeds supply. The crucial implication is that a nursery place does not remove the need to apply properly for Reception later. Families should plan as if they will still need to compete for Reception places.

Inspection evidence supports a school where behaviour and culture are strengths. The most recent full Ofsted inspection (June 2019) states that pupils’ attitudes to learning are excellent and that behaviour is impeccable. That type of culture tends to reduce classroom disruption and helps quieter children participate more comfortably.

The school also frames wellbeing through the lens of belonging and inclusion. The denominational review describes a community where helping and supporting one another is treated as part of pupils’ faith journey. For many families, this signals a moral vocabulary that goes beyond sanctions and rewards. The best indicator to look for in a visit is whether children can explain the “why” behind rules, not just the rule itself.

For pupils who need additional support, the practical question is consistency. Large primaries can be excellent at systems and intervention, but parents should ask how support is coordinated across a two-form intake, and how transitions (nursery to Reception, Year 2 to Year 3, Year 6 to Year 7) are handled for children who find change harder.

Extracurricular life is organised and specific rather than vague, with named clubs and published timetables. A recent clubs leaflet includes Wake Up and Shake Up, Gymlets and Cheerlets, football (including academy-led sessions and school squads), street dance, netball, and cricket. The implication is that sport and physical activity are treated as part of the routine fabric of school, not as occasional add-ons.

The Mission Team is another distinctive element, reflecting the school’s faith identity in a practical form. The school’s extracurricular page notes weekly Mission Team meetings, and the school’s wraparound care information explicitly positions provision as supporting working families without requiring daily commitment.

A useful way to think about extracurricular provision at primary is equity of access. When clubs run before school and after school, families juggling transport and work patterns can struggle to take advantage. Holy Family’s wraparound hours, 07:45 to 17:45, can make it easier for children to join clubs without creating additional childcare complexity.

The school operates a rolling start. Gates open at 08:40 and close at 09:00, with registration at 08:50 for Reception to Year 6 and 09:00 for Nursery. Collection is 15:20 for Reception to Year 2 and 15:30 for Key Stage 2.

Wraparound care runs from 07:45 to 17:45, and it is available for both school-aged children and nursery children (with separate nursery-named sessions).

For transport, Langley (Berks) rail station on the Elizabeth line is the obvious public transport anchor for families commuting from further afield. Local bus connectivity includes TfL route 81, which serves the High Street Langley stop. As with many schools on a busy high street, parents should check local parking and drop-off expectations directly with the school, especially where traffic patterns change at peak times.

• Catholic admissions requirements. Reception places sit within Slough’s coordinated admissions system, but this Catholic school also requires a supplementary admission form returned to the school by the same deadline. Families who miss the supplementary step can weaken their application under faith-based oversubscription criteria.

• Competition for places. Demand exceeds supply in the available admissions figures, with 100 applications for 60 offers. If you are moving into the area, treat admission as uncertain until you have a confirmed offer.

• Faith is central, not decorative. Denominational reporting describes prayer and collective worship as integral to daily life. Families who prefer a lighter-touch approach to faith should explore whether the ethos fits their expectations before applying.

• Governance transition is recent. The school joined St Thomas Catholic Academies Trust on 01 September 2024. Most changes are administrative, but any trust transition can bring policy alignment and procedural updates.

For families who want a high-performing primary where Catholic life is a genuine organising principle, Holy Family is a compelling option. The academic picture is strong, with KS2 outcomes well above England averages, and inspection evidence supports a culture of calm behaviour and high expectations.

It suits families comfortable with an explicit Catholic ethos, and those who will benefit from long wraparound hours alongside structured extracurricular opportunities. Securing a place is the limiting factor, so use FindMySchool’s Map Search to sanity-check your location plans and keep a close eye on Slough’s admissions timetable.