Our Lady's RC Primary School, Hereford

Ofsted's report card from its 2 June 2026 inspection grades Our Lady's RC Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders are clear on the importance of school attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children receive a nurturing and well-structured start to their school life."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that inclusion sits at the heart of all decision-making."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "The passionate new leadership team are working at pace to further develop this school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have developed a coherent personal development programme that supports all pupils' wider growth, incorporating the school's values and ethos."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, pupils have not secured well enough the important foundations that they need in reading and writing."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have outlined a clear vision for the teaching of the curriculum, but the quality of teaching varies across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment information consistently and effectively to address misconceptions and help pupils apply prior knowledge to new learning"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils gain the essential knowledge that they need to enable them to achieve well across the curriculum, and particularly in reading".

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is a genuine pleasure to welcome you to Our Lady's Catholic Primary School and Nursery. I am incredibly proud of our school and the strong sense of care, faith, and community that makes it such a special place for children and families."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £3.30 per session.

In 2025, 67% of Year 6 pupils at Our Lady's RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Herefordshire, County of; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (71% in reading, 74% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 22 families put Our Lady's RC Primary School as their first choice and 50 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Our Lady's RC Primary School are St Martin's Primary School (0.2 miles); Riverside Primary School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 70% reading, 66% maths); Marlbrook Primary School (0.4 miles); and St James' Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, 83% reading, 86% maths).

Our Lady's RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 2 schools.

53% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (38%), Asian (9%) and Black (7%).

In 2026, 33 pupils (18.2%) received SEN support and 5 (2.8%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

Our Lady's RC Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Hereford Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hazel Grove (e-bound), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Our Lady's RC Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 388 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Our Lady's RC Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Our Lady's RC Primary School are The Hereford Church of England Academy (0.6 miles), Whitecross Hereford (1.7 miles) and Aylestone School (1.7 miles).