Our Lady Catholic Primary School

Our Lady Catholic Primary School has demonstrated a good overall effectiveness in its educational provision. This is the first routine inspection since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which the inspectors have factored into their evaluation. The school has made commendable progress compared to its previous inspection that graded it as requiring improvement. Pupils are happy, engaged in their learning, and make good progress across a broad curriculum. The positive relationships fostered within the school community contribute to an environment where pupils feel safe and valued.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy a broad and engaging curriculum that fosters curiosity.
• Positive relationships among pupils and staff create a welcoming environment.
• Strong emphasis on reading and phonics, supported by relevant training for staff.
• Effective safeguarding culture with vigilant staff and thorough training.
• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour and a respectful attitude.
• Dedicated subject leaders who are knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistencies in the implementation of the new phonics programme.
• Some subject leaders are new and require more confidence in their roles.

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 Our Lady Catholic Primary School attended 94.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.3% 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, 2.4% of pupils at Our Lady 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 Our Lady Catholic Primary School had 17.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 39.8% 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, 12.1% of pupils at Our Lady Catholic Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.0% 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 2024–25 Our Lady Catholic Primary School received £7,226 and spent £7,436 for each of its 166 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £110,000 (-£661 per pupil).

Across all 13 schools of The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust, income was £7,471 and spending £7,253 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Hitchin · Hertfordshire local authority: places and applications

Our Lady Catholic Primary School is part of The Diocese of Westminster Academy Trust, which runs 15 schools. The nearest others:

• St Thomas More Roman Catholic Primary School Letchworth Garden City
• The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School Stevenage
• St John Roman Catholic Primary School Baldock
• Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School Stevenage
• St Margaret Clitherow Roman Catholic Primary School Stevenage
• The Holy Family Catholic Primary School Welwyn Garden City
• St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School Royston
• Nicholas Breakspear Catholic School St Albans
• Saint Michael's Catholic High School Watford
• St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School Watford

What is Our Lady Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Our Lady Catholic Primary School is Good, from an inspection in September 2022.

When was Our Lady Catholic Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Our Lady Catholic Primary School was last inspected in September 2022.

How many pupils does Our Lady Catholic Primary School have?

Our Lady Catholic Primary School has 173 pupils on roll.

What age range does Our Lady Catholic Primary School cover?

Our Lady Catholic Primary School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Our Lady Catholic Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 57% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Our Lady Catholic Primary School?

Our Lady Catholic Primary School is at Old Hale Way, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 1XT.