St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

About St Patrick's Catholic Primary School

St Patrick's Catholic Primary School in Waltham Forest is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It currently has 382 pupils against a capacity of 460, meaning there is some physical room to grow, but demand is clearly strong: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 59 applications for just 23 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.57. All 22 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting that while the school is popular, families who put it first stand a good chance. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 26.9%, which is notably higher than the national primary average of around 23% and reflects the diverse, urban intake typical of Waltham Forest. The school's Roman Catholic character will be a key draw for many local families, though the admission data suggests it also attracts a broad cross-section of the community.

Academically, St Patrick's performs around the middle of the pack in Waltham Forest. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the local authority average of 74%. The school ranks 37th out of 48 primaries in the borough on this metric, placing it in the bottom quarter locally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: 79% hit the expected standard in reading and 74% in both maths and writing, with average scaled scores of 105 in reading and 104 in maths — both slightly above the national benchmark of 100. The proportion reaching the higher standard is modest: 30% in reading, 19% in maths, and just 9% across all three subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was rated Good across all categories, including behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and early years provision, maintaining the same overall rating it received in 2011.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for a primary, including a sports hall, gymnasium, playing fields, a forest school area, a sensory room, and a chapel. Sports provision covers swimming, athletics, football and dance, while clubs include gardening, coding, eco club and book club. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, dyslexia, and social, emotional and mental health needs. With an oversubscription ratio of 2.57, it is not the hardest school in the borough to get into, but families should still apply as a first preference. St Patrick's will suit Catholic families in Waltham Forest who value a faith-based environment and a school that, while not academically outstanding, provides consistent Good-rated provision across the board with a strong pastoral and extracurricular offer.

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