Holy Cross Catholic Primary School, London
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in London. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in December 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 483rd-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 4,333rd of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2016)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lewisham (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Lewisham and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 72% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 36 families put Holy Cross Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 89 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School are Rushey Green Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 61% reading, 60% maths); Holbeach Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 75% reading, 63% maths); Athelney Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 57% reading, 65% maths); and Sandhurst Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths).
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Rushey Green Primary SchoolHolbeach Primary SchoolAthelney Primary SchoolSandhurst Primary School
Who goes there
54.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are Black (34%), Mixed (21%) and White British (13%).
Staffing
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Catford Bridge, about 600 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).
16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Holy Cross School, 110 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Holy Cross Catholic Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School are Conisborough College (0.6 miles) and Prendergast Ladywell School (0.7 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from December 2016, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Holy Cross is a school where every child is celebrated as unique and supported to achieve great things. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and use excellent teaching methods - particularly in reading - to help pupils succeed. The school offers extensive activities, clubs, and learning opportunities that go beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Highly ambitious, well-designed curriculum with clear focus on academic excellence and life in modern Britain
- Exceptional teaching of reading using systematic phonics from Nursery onwards
- Expert support for pupils with SEND, ensuring all pupils learn the same curriculum
- Excellent pupil behaviour, positive attitudes to learning, and strong school culture
- Extensive additional activities and experiences with many opportunities for pupil responsibility
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating a strong culture of safeguarding, regular staff training, clear procedures for reporting concerns, and pupils learning how to keep themselves safe including online.
Extracurricular Activities
Educational visits, extra-curricular clubs, sports and house captains roles, eco-warriors, digital leaders, reading buddies, peacemakers programme, debate opportunities, swimming lessons, daily story time, drop everything and read sessions
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School continues to be an outstanding school where pupils are happy, feel safe, and achieve exceptionally well across the curriculum. The school community values each pupil as a unique individual and is united in high aspirations for all children.
At a Glance
16.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 72% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 79% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.1
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
27.8
KS2
10
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Holy Cross Catholic Primary School.
- Junior Adventures Group @ Holy Cross SE6At the school · Not yet graded
- Superkids Club Rushey GreenAt the school · Not yet graded
- Best After School Club Limited690m away · Not yet graded
- Munchkin Sports St Dunstan's College Holiday Camp840m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lewisham's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is in Lewisham; for families living there:
Apply to Lewisham for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 176
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 15
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 176 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 161 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
26 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Holy Cross Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lewisham, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lewisham got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
101%
Over capacity
205 pupils
203 places
2 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Lewisham council
Places available
3,323
Applications
2,840
Got 1st preference
87.4%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across Lewisham council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
41
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
22.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
231
Total Pupils
122
Boys
109
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
17.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£55,957
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,747
Per pupil
£1532k
Total funding
£65k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.0%
Overall absence
9.8%
Persistent absence
183
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 83% did so in maths.
What is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in December 2016, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, Lewisham allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School was full in 2025, at 101% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Classes at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School average 23.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School has around 231 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
4% of sessions were missed at Holy Cross Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 9.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Lewisham's coordinated admissions process, naming Holy Cross Catholic Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Holy Cross Catholic Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists 2 out-of-school clubs at the school: Junior Adventures Group @ Holy Cross SE6 (registered, not yet graded) and Superkids Club Rushey Green (registered, not yet graded). There are 2 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 176 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 15 serious and 161 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 26 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lewisham is 75 (the median across 98 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is at Culverley Road, Catford, London, SE6 2LD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)