Our Lady of Lourdes RC School

About Our Lady of Lourdes RC School

Our Lady of Lourdes RC School in Barnet is a primary that punches well above the local average on the headline academic measure. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 86% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Barnet local authority average of 73% for primary schools. That 13-point gap is significant and places the school 9th out of 80 primaries in the borough, comfortably inside the top 10. It also ranks in the top 11% of London primaries and the top 5% nationally on this metric. The school’s ranking score of 86 puts it well behind the very top performers in Barnet — Courtland School (97), St Andrew’s CofE Totteridge (93) and Ashmole Primary (93) — but it is still a strong showing for a relatively small school of 206 pupils.

Digging into the detail, the school’s performance is consistent across the three core subjects. In reading, 90% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% reached the higher standard; in maths, 90% met the expected standard and 34% achieved the higher mark; in writing, 86% met the expected standard and 18% reached the higher standard. Average scaled scores were 106 in both reading and maths, which is above the national benchmark of 100. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2023, rated it Good overall, with Good in every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. That marks a change from its previous inspection in 2010, when it was rated Outstanding overall, but the current judgement still reflects a well-run school with solid outcomes.

The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 73 applications for just 18 places, an oversubscription ratio of 4.06, and all 17 first-preference applicants were offered a place. Facilities include a library, playing fields, dining hall, art studios and a chapel, reflecting its Roman Catholic character. Sports on offer include dance, gymnastics, swimming and tennis, and clubs range from drama and choir to chess and film club. The school has nursery provision for children from age three and offers SEND support for specific learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 19.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a moderately diverse intake. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong academic results within a faith-based setting and who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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