Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School

About Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School

Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary School in North Northamptonshire is a state primary for 376 pupils, operating just below its 420-capacity. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 23.7%, which is notably above the national average for primary schools and suggests a genuinely mixed intake. The school is Roman Catholic in character, though the data doesn't specify whether admissions prioritise faith families. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 77 applications for 40 places, with 39 of those coming as first preferences. That oversubscription ratio of 1.93 means nearly two families compete for every place, a clear signal that local parents rate the school highly. The headteacher is Maire Hayes, and the school has held a Good Ofsted rating across both its most recent graded inspection in 2018 and its ungraded inspection in 2023, where inspectors confirmed it remains Good.

Academically, the school performs solidly above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a North Northamptonshire average of 61%. That places the school 25th out of 90 primary schools in the LA, putting it in the top third locally. Individual subject scores are strong: 88% met the expected standard in reading, 81% in maths, and 75% in writing. At the higher standard, 29% achieved greater depth in reading, 31% in maths, and 8% in writing, though only 6% hit the higher threshold across all three subjects. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds relative to starting points. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 35% of all primaries, which is respectable but not elite. The top-performing local peers include Gretton Primary Academy and Stanion Church of England Primary, both with higher ranking scores.

The school offers a decent range of facilities for a primary, including a sports hall, playing fields, a forest school, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, gymnastics, rounders, cricket, swimming and tennis, while clubs include chess, choir, book club and science club. SEND support is well-documented, with provisions for dyslexia, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, multi-sensory impairment, and social, emotional and mental health challenges. There is no nursery or sixth form, as expected for a 4-11 primary. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying from outside the Catholic catchment or without a faith connection should check the admissions criteria carefully. This is a school that suits families who want a faith-based setting with a genuinely diverse intake, strong but not exceptional results, and a broad range of enrichment activities. It's a solid, well-regarded local option rather than a standout academic powerhouse.

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