Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools
90%
Capacity
103
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools
Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School is a small state-funded primary in the New Forest, currently operating below its full capacity with 103 pupils against a school capacity of 115. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 27.2%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and signals a diverse intake in terms of socioeconomic background. Demand for places is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 26 applications for just 11 places, with all 11 first-preference applicants offered a spot. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.36, meaning more than two families applied for every available place. The school is Roman Catholic in character and co-educational, serving children from ages 4 to 11. It is run jointly by an Executive Headteacher and a Co Headteacher, and is part of the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools.
Academically, this school punches well above its weight. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in November 2022, it was rated Outstanding across every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a clear upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2016. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, far exceeding the local authority average of 61%. The school also excels at the higher standard: 35% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, while 100% reached the expected standard in both reading and maths individually. Average scaled scores were 112 in reading and 110 in maths. These results place the school first in the New Forest local authority ranking and in the top 1% nationally.
The school offers a strong range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a forest school, music rooms, a chapel, and an ICT suite. Sports provision covers rounders, gymnastics, netball, cross country, football, swimming and tennis, while clubs include science, chess, eco, film, art and gardening. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and other difficulties or disabilities. With its small size, strong academic outcomes and faith-based character, this school will particularly suit Catholic families in the New Forest area who value high standards and a close-knit community. The oversubscription figures suggest it is a popular choice locally, so early application is advisable. There is no nursery provision or sixth form, and the school does not offer boarding.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | 83a Ramley Road, Lymington, New Forest, SO41 8GY |
| Headteacher | Executive Headteacher Gerida Montague & Co Headteacher Sarah Hendricks |
| Local Authority | Hampshire |
| Number of Pupils | 103 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 27.2% |
| School Capacity | 103 / 115 (90% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
15 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (94%)
113th of 13,686
Nationally
14th of 2,034
In South East
1st of 35
In New Forest
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
94%
Expected Standard
35%
Higher Standard
'22/23
83%
'23/24
94%
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
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed11
26
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
11 families put this school as their 1st choice (42% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% 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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British89.3%
- White (other)5.8%
- Mixed2.0%
- Asian1.0%
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
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
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.
5
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
4
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School - the Learning Federation Partnership of Schools
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
83a Ramley Road, Lymington
New Forest, SO41 8GY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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