Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic First School

About Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic First School

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic First School is a state primary in Redditch, part of Worcestershire, and it currently operates very close to full capacity with 297 pupils against a published capacity of 300. That near-full roll is no accident: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 92 applications for just 58 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.59, and only 56 of those 92 applicants received a first-preference offer. The school’s intake is notably less disadvantaged than the national average, with just 7.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals compared with a typical primary figure of around 23% across England. As a Roman Catholic first school serving children from age four to nine, it draws families who value a faith-based start to education, and the demand suggests it is a popular choice locally. The school is mixed gender and does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, so pupils will need to move on after Year 4.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across its two most recent inspections. The most recent graded inspection took place in 2013, where overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and early years provision were all judged Good. An ungraded inspection in February 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, with no change in rating. The early years provision, which was previously rated Requires Improvement in 2008, has clearly improved since then. While the data does not include specific KS2 SATs results for this school, the local authority average for KS2 attainment across Worcestershire primary schools is 61, and the school sits within a competitive local landscape where the top-performing peers score between 86 and 88 on ranking metrics. Parents should note that as a first school, pupils leave at age nine, so any KS2 data would reflect the school their child moves to rather than this one.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including playing fields, a sports hall, a sensory room, a library, music rooms, a forest school area, and a chapel. Sports provision covers cross country, dance, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, cricket, and athletics, while clubs include eco club, book club, chess, coding, art club, and choir. For children with additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and other difficulties or disabilities. The oversubscription figures make clear that securing a place is competitive, so families with a Catholic commitment or other priority criteria should check the admissions policy carefully. This school will suit families looking for a faith-based, well-subscribed first school with strong demand, a broad extracurricular offer, and a clear SEND framework.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic First School

Helpful Guides for Parents