St Luke's Catholic Academy
114%
Capacity
239
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
About St Luke's Catholic Academy
St Luke's Catholic Academy in Harlow holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections, including the most recent one in December 2023. The school's exam results for the 2023/24 academic year tell a more nuanced story. At Key Stage 2, 48% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits below the local authority average of 62% for similar schools, and places the school 23rd out of 28 primary schools in Harlow. On the positive side, reading is a relative strength: 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, and 29% achieved the higher standard. Maths scores are more mixed, with an average scaled score of 100 and 61% reaching the expected level, though only 16% hit the higher benchmark. Writing and maths both saw 10% of pupils reach the higher standard.
Ofsted's breakdown of the 2023 inspection shows consistent Good ratings across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision all scored a 2. The previous inspection in 2018 also rated overall effectiveness as Good, with leadership and management and early years provision both at the same level. This stability suggests a school that knows what it does well and sticks to it. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 academic year, with 56 applications for 30 places and 28 offers made to first-preference applicants. That ratio of 1.87 applicants per place indicates solid local demand, even if the academic outcomes aren't the highest in the area.
The school offers a broad set of facilities including a chapel, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms and an ICT suite, plus an outdoor playground. Sports provision covers rounders, cricket, football, swimming and cross country, and there are clubs such as book club, art club, chess and science club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists a wide range of SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With a nursery on site and a capacity of 210 pupils currently housing 239, the school is operating above its official capacity. St Luke's will suit families who value a Catholic primary with consistent leadership and a broad extracurricular offer, and who are comfortable with results that are below the local average but supported by strong reading outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Pyenest Road, Harlow, Harlow, CM19 4LU |
| Headteacher | Ian Kendal |
| Local Authority | Essex |
| Number of Pupils | 239 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.6% |
| School Capacity | 239 / 210 (114% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Dec 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Jan 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (48%)
11217th of 13,686
Nationally
1249th of 1,612
In East of England
23rd of 28
In Harlow
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
48%
Expected Standard
10%
Higher Standard
'22/23
40%
'23/24
48%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed30
56
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
30 families put this school as their 1st choice (54% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:45
Source: st-lukesrc.essex.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% 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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British31.8%
- White (other)23.8%
- Mixed9.6%
- Asian7.9%
- Black2.1%
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 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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.
17
Total schools
14
Oversubscribed
12
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 St Luke's Catholic Academy
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
Pyenest Road, Harlow
Harlow, CM19 4LU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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