SchoolScoresSt Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Part of THE DIOCESE OF WESTMINSTER ACADEMY TRUST
Horseshoe Lane, Garston, Watford, WD25 7HP
01923 676022 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 11 November 2014.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 27 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Watford comparisons use the 19 of its 36 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 17 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.
| Statement | This school | Watford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 12th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 95% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 9th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 14th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 27 parents whose child had been bullied 15th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 13% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 37% | 58% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 54 parents who had raised a concern 13th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 22% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 83% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 11th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Watford. Higher than 32% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. Watford figures pool parents at the Watford 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
34 pupils in this year group.
71% — 7 points above the Hertfordshire average, and 9 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 71% | 64% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 11% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 71% | 79% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 74% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 79% | 76% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 105 |
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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 29 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 96 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.4 · 2026: 1.0
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 25th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.0% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 27th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 27% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 6th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 70% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 31st highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 78% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.0% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 9th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 67% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 64% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.5% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 31st lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 16% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 5.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 27th lowest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Lower than 26% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.6% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 10th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 71% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.4 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 5th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 80% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.7 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 13th highest of 36 state primary schools in Watford. Higher than 75% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 20.6% | 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
- Coates Way JMI and Nursery School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Alban Wood Primary School and Nursery 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mount Pleasant Lane Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Stanborough Primary School 0.7 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2024)
- The Grove Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leavesden JMI School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingsway Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingsway Infants' School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023
- Parkgate Infants' and Nursery School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024
- Cherry Tree Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 11 November 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 27 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 71% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School?
86% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put St Catherine of Siena Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 29 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 138288.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.