Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
88%
Capacity
185
Pupils
4.7x
Demand
About Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School in Lewisham is a smaller-than-average primary, with 185 pupils against a capacity of 210. The school serves a community with significant economic need: 44.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23%. This context is important when reading the school's demand signal. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 75 applications for just 16 places, making it heavily oversubscribed with a ratio of 4.69 applicants per place. All 15 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, suggesting that while competition is fierce, local families who prioritise the school stand a strong chance. The school has a Church of England religious character and offers nursery provision, which may appeal to families looking for a faith-based start from age three.
Academically, Holy Trinity's most recent Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show a mixed picture. The proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined was 40%, compared to the Lewisham local authority average of 64%. This places the school 58th out of 59 primary schools in the borough, in the bottom 50 nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: 73% met the expected standard in writing, and 60% in reading, while maths lagged at 50%. Average scaled scores were 102 in reading and 98 in maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024 was an ungraded visit that confirmed it 'remains Good', a rating it has held since its last graded inspection in 2015, where leadership, early years provision and overall effectiveness were all judged Good.
Holy Trinity offers a strong set of facilities for a primary of its size, including a sensory room, forest school, gymnasium, sports hall and a chapel. Its SEND provision is notably broad, covering ten categories from dyslexia to autistic spectrum disorder and multi-sensory impairment, which suggests a genuinely inclusive approach. The school runs a wide range of clubs including drama, science, film, choir, eco and gardening, plus sports such as swimming, netball and cricket. For families in Lewisham who value a Church of England ethos, a nurturing SEND environment and a school that is clearly popular locally, Holy Trinity is worth serious consideration despite its below-average academic outcomes. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Rathfern Primary School, 1.8 km away, which may be a useful comparison point.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Dartmouth Road, London, Lewisham, SE23 3HZ |
| Headteacher | Sarah Ambrose |
| Local Authority | Lewisham |
| Number of Pupils | 185 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 44.3% |
| School Capacity | 185 / 210 (88% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
29 Feb 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (29 Feb 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Mar 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (40%)
12515th of 13,686
Nationally
1556th of 1,592
In London
58th of 59
In Lewisham
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
40%
Expected Standard
3%
Higher Standard
'22/23
60%
'23/24
40%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed16
75
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
15 families put this school as their 1st choice (20% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Black17.8%
- Mixed16.7%
- White British8.1%
- White (other)5.4%
- Asian3.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
16
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
14
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Dartmouth Road, London
Lewisham, SE23 3HZ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
Parent Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience at Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School!
Write a Review