Our Lady Catholic Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Woodhall Lane, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 3TF

01707 324408 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 strong, 6 expectedSafeguarding met · 10 March 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths70%England 62% · 2024/25
7th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 64% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils204Room for 243 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 217 in 2019, 196 in 2021, 191 in 2022, 201 in 2023, 200 in 2024, 208 in 2025, 204 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.818 for 22 places, September 2026
15th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 10% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 10 March 2026 , published 30 April 2026.

In short: 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

74 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Welwyn Garden City comparisons use the 3 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolWelwyn Garden CityEngland
My child is happy at this school
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 85% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
99% 93% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 71% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
97% 95% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 55% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
89% 84% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 69 parents who had raised a concern
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 66% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 84% 74%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND
2nd highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 68% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 74% 63%
I would recommend this school to another parent
1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 70% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96%said yes 90% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 36%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Welwyn Garden City figures pool parents at the Welwyn Garden City schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

30 pupils in this year group.

70% — 6 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 8 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 70% 64% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 20% 11% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 87% 79% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 73% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 77% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 107 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 106 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 75%This school 2023/24: 63%This school 2024/25: 70% This school England 62% 2022/23 75% 2023/24 63% 2024/25 70%

Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hertfordshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered22
Families who put it first18
Of those, offered a place18 (100%)
Families who listed it at all66

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.

Admissions dates and schools in Hertfordshire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolHertfordshireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
10th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
19.5% 17.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
14th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.9% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
16th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.7% 14.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
20.2% 21.3%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
10th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.2% 5.0%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
6th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Lower than 53% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
11.2% 11.5%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
14th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
3.8 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
8th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Lower than 41% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.0% 1.3% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 92% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
25.3 20.2 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
1st highest of 16 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 92% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
14.1 10.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
4th highest of 15 state primary schools in Welwyn Garden City.
Higher than 78% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
22.2% 15.7%* 14.4%*

Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby primary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

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

Our Lady Catholic Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 10 March 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 strong, 6 expected, and safeguarding was met.

How did Our Lady Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Our Lady Catholic Primary School?

96% of the 74 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Our Lady Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Our Lady Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put Our Lady Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.