Rathfern Primary School, London

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades Rathfern Primary School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils attend well."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "The school's curriculum is well considered and ambitious."

Early years - Strong standard. "The early years provision provides children with an impressive start to their education."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "This is a highly inclusive school where staff know each individual pupil's needs well."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "There is a strong and unwavering commitment, shared by leaders, staff and governors, to secure the best possible education for all pupils."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "The school's personal development offer is focused closely on developing pupils' character and social awareness, and their readiness to contribute positively to society."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve outcomes in national assessments that are broadly in line with national figures."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to strengthen their work in reducing barriers to learning so that pupils' achievement is clearly reflected in the school's published outcomes over time".

In 2025, 87% of Year 6 pupils at Rathfern Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Lewisham and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 59% in reading and 69% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 63 families put Rathfern Primary School as their first choice and 250 named it as one of their preferences, for 59 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 7 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Rathfern Primary School are Kilmorie Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 83% reading, 84% maths); St William of York Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 90% reading, 76% maths); Dalmain Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 79% reading, 81% maths); and Rushey Green Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 61% reading, 60% maths).

Rathfern Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

177 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rathfern Primary School (as of April 2026): 98% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 80% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (98%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (80%).

30.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (30%), White British (29%) and Mixed (19%).

In 2026, 59 pupils (12.2%) received SEN support and 14 (2.9%) 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.

Rathfern Primary School had 29 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Catford, about 550 metres away (roughly a 7-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Blythe Vale, 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Rathfern 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 2024/25, Rathfern Primary School issued 8 suspensions, 1.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rathfern Primary School are Allenby Tutorial Trust (0.6 miles), Prendergast Ladywell School (0.6 miles), Forest Hill School (0.9 miles) and Conisborough College (1 mile).