Holy Cross Catholic Primary School

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School remains an outstanding institution, celebrated for its dedication to nurturing each pupil as a unique individual. The school's community, comprising staff and families, takes great pride in fostering an environment where pupils feel happy and secure. The high expectations set by leaders inspire pupils to excel across the curriculum, with a particular focus on achieving excellence in English and mathematics. Despite the longstanding achievements, the school continually seeks to refine its practices to support all students, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This first ungraded inspection since its last outstanding judgment in December 2016 confirms the school’s ongoing commitment to high-quality education.

Strengths

• Highly ambitious curriculum design
• Exceptional achievement across all subjects
• Strong focus on reading and phonics
• Effective safeguarding culture
• Highly knowledgeable and skilled teachers
• Regular adaptation of learning for pupils with SEND
• Extensive range of extra-curricular activities
• Positive behaviour and attitudes from pupils
• Reflective leadership committed to continuous improvement

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.4% of pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Holy Cross Catholic Primary School had 20.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 17.7% of pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.2% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Holy Cross Catholic Primary School received £8,707 and spent £8,225 for each of its 231 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £368,000 (£1,592 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Lewisham · Lewisham local authority: places and applications

What is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Holy Cross Catholic Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Holy Cross Catholic Primary School have?

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School has 231 pupils on roll.

What age range does Holy Cross Catholic Primary School cover?

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?

Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is at Culverley Road, Catford, London, SE6 2LD.