Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School

About Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School

Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School sits within the Solihull local authority, where it ranks 17th out of 42 primary schools. That places it comfortably in the top half of its local peers, though it sits behind the three top-ranked schools in the area: St Alphege Church of England Junior School, Monkspath Junior and Infant School, and Knowle Church of England Primary Academy. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is led by headteacher Deborah Enstone and has 443 pupils on roll, which is slightly above its official capacity of 420. Just over 12% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure that gives a sense of the school’s intake. The nearest school rated Outstanding by Ofsted is Shirley Heath Junior School, less than a kilometre away, so families in this part of Solihull have strong local options to weigh up.

Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated it Good overall, with leadership and management judged Outstanding. That is a shift from its previous graded inspection in 2013, when it was rated Outstanding across the board, but the ungraded visit in 2024 confirmed the school remains Good. At Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Solihull local authority average of 67%. Reading was a particular strength, with 91% reaching the expected standard and 44% reaching the higher standard. In maths, 84% met the expected standard and 38% achieved the higher standard. Writing was weaker, with 78% at expected and only 14% at the higher level. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 30% of primaries, and within the West Midlands it sits in the top 29%.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 120 applications for 58 places and 55 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of just over two applicants per place. Facilities include a chapel, a sensory room, a forest school area, art studios, music rooms, a library, a sports hall and playing fields. Sports on offer include football, gymnastics, athletics, rounders and cross country, while clubs include film club, drama and choir. The school has a broad range of SEND provisions, covering specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a school that will suit Catholic families in Solihull who want a faith-based primary with strong reading outcomes and a wide range of facilities, though those looking for the very highest local rankings may also want to consider the top three peers nearby.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents