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Holy Rood Catholic Primary School

Watford, WD17 4FSPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Sep 2023
KS2 Results
77%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.2×
Oversubscribed
73 1st-choice / 60 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#2302 of 13,686 nationally

About Holy Rood Catholic Primary School

Holy Rood Catholic Primary School in Watford is a Roman Catholic state primary that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its popularity among local families. The school has 456 pupils on roll against a capacity of 390, meaning it is operating above its official limit. Demand is fierce: for 60 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 131 total applications, with 73 first-preference applications and 57 first-preference offers. That works out at an oversubscription ratio of 2.18 applicants per place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 3.9%, well below the national average, reflecting the relatively affluent intake of the area. The school also offers nursery provision for children from age three, so families can start their child’s journey here before Reception.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressGreenbank Road, Watford, Watford, WD17 4FS
HeadteacherEmma Braund
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils456
Free School Meals (FSM)3.9%
School Capacity456 / 390 (117% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

20 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 15 Oct 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

9
Playing FieldsICT SuiteSensory RoomForest SchoolOutdoor PlaygroundArt StudiosMusic RoomsDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

FootballAthleticsTennisDanceGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

CodingChoirBook ClubEco Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

09:00 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:00-09:00

After-school care

15:15-18:00

Source: holyroodcatholicprimaryschool.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Rood Catholic Primary School

Holy Rood Catholic Primary School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.