Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
99%
Capacity
416
Pupils
2.0x
Demand
About Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School sits in the middle of the pack in Bexley, ranking 40th out of 55 primary schools in the local authority. Its headline Key Stage 2 metric — the percentage of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths — stands at 59%, which is below the Bexley average of 67%. That places the school in the bottom half nationally, at the 60th percentile. However, the picture is more nuanced than that single figure suggests. In reading, 86% of pupils met the expected standard and 32% reached the higher standard, both solid outcomes. Maths tells a similar story: 82% at expected and 27% at the higher level. The school’s average scores in reading (106) and maths (105) are both above the national benchmark of 100. So while the combined measure lags behind the LA average, individual subject performance is respectable, and the school is clearly getting a good proportion of children to a high standard in reading and maths.
The most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, rated the school Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for behaviour and attitudes. Leadership and management, quality of education, personal development and early years provision were all judged Good. This is a consistent picture: the previous inspection in 2011 also rated the school Good. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive — 92% of respondents would recommend the school. In the Parent View survey, 92% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 93% felt their child is safe. The school is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 113 applications for 56 places, with 55 first-preference offers made. That works out at just over two applications per place, so securing a spot is competitive, particularly for Catholic families given the school’s Roman Catholic character.
The school offers a nursery provision for children from age three and has a range of facilities including a chapel, sensory room, music rooms and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include football, cricket, tennis and dance, while clubs include book club, drama and eco club. The school supports pupils with a variety of special educational needs, including speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and physical disabilities. However, the Parent View data on SEND support is more mixed: 63% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school gives SEND children the support they need, but 38% disagreed or strongly disagreed — a notable split that prospective parents with SEND children may want to explore further. With 7.7% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively affluent intake compared to the national average.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Holbeach Gardens, Sidcup, Bexley, DA15 8QW |
| Headteacher | C Byrne |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| Number of Pupils | 416 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 7.7% |
| School Capacity | 416 / 420 (99% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 Jun 2025Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Jul 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (59%)
8188th of 13,686
Nationally
1283rd of 1,592
In London
40th of 55
In Bexley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
59%
Expected Standard
14%
Higher Standard
'22/23
70%
'23/24
59%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
Ofsted Parent View
89 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
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
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed56
113
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
55 families put this school as their 1st choice (49% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British59.9%
- Mixed9.4%
- Asian8.6%
- White (other)5.3%
- Black1.4%
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 half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half 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.
14
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
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 the Rosary Catholic 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
Holbeach Gardens, Sidcup
Bexley, DA15 8QW
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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