Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery School
128%
Capacity
231
Pupils
2.2x
Demand
About Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery School
Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery School stands out sharply against the Brent local authority average for primary schools. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in Key Stage 2 is 65%, this school's most recent Ofsted inspection awarded it the highest possible grade of Outstanding across every category, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. This is a significant achievement, placing it among just seven Outstanding primary schools out of 61 in the borough. The school's previous inspection, back in 2011, also rated it Outstanding overall, but the 2023 inspection shows a clear improvement in early years provision, which moved from a grade 2 (Good) to a grade 1 (Outstanding). For a school that only covers the infant and nursery years (ages 3 to 7), this consistent excellence in early education is particularly notable.
Academically, the school's focus is on building strong foundations in the earliest years. Because it is an infant and nursery school, it does not have its own Key Stage 2 SATs results to compare against the LA average. Instead, its academic quality is reflected in the Ofsted inspection, which judged the quality of education as Outstanding. The school's early years provision was also rated Outstanding, a key metric for parents of younger children. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 131 applications for just 60 places, with 73 families listing it as their first preference and 57 of those being offered a place. This gives an oversubscription ratio of 2.18, meaning more than two families applied for every available spot, underscoring its strong local reputation.
The school offers a wide range of facilities for its young pupils, including an outdoor playground, sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports include rounders, gymnastics, swimming, and athletics, while clubs range from book club and chess to eco club and science club. The school provides for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. With 12.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse community. For families considering the full primary journey, the nearest Outstanding school is Our Lady of Grace Catholic Junior School, just 0.7 km away, which may be a natural next step for children leaving this infant school. This school is best suited to families seeking a faith-based, high-performing start to their child's education in a setting that is clearly in high demand.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 7 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Dollis Hill Avenue, London, Brent, NW2 6EU |
| Headteacher | Philomena Bourne |
| Local Authority | Brent |
| Number of Pupils | 231 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 12.1% |
| School Capacity | 231 / 180 (128% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
5 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 30 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
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
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed60
131
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
73 families put this school as their 1st choice (56% 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 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White (other)31.2%
- Mixed21.2%
- White British16.0%
- Asian3.4%
- Black0.4%
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 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
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.
17
Total schools
16
Oversubscribed
13
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 Our Lady of Grace RC Infant and Nursery 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
Dollis Hill Avenue, London
Brent, NW2 6EU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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