Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, London
Sacred Heart 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 Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 769th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 8,618th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Islington (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in detail
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "Why Choose Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School and Nursery? At Sacred Heart, we believe that every child deserves the very best start to their educational journey. As a thriving and vibrant community, we are proud to nurture confident, curious, and compassionate learners in a warm and inclusive environment where every child is truly valued."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School! We are dedicated to nurturing the academic and spiritual development of every child. Our school has a proud tradition of fostering growth and excellence, and we warmly invite families from all faiths and backgrounds to join our community."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Islington and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 71% in reading and 60% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 87 named it as one of their preferences, for 58 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School are Drayton Park Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 85% reading, 88% maths); Robert Blair School and Children's Centre (0.5 miles, Good, 48% reading, 64% maths); Laycock Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); and Hungerford School (0.6 miles, Good, 59% reading, 52% maths).
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Drayton Park Primary SchoolRobert Blair School and Children's CentreLaycock Primary SchoolHungerford School
Who goes there
52.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 45.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (30%), Black (28%) and Mixed (21%).
In 2026, 69 pupils (15.9%) received SEN support and 34 (7.8%) 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 autism.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is Holloway Road Underground Station, about 260 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lough Road, 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School issued 14 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School are St Mary Magdalene Academy (0.3 miles), Highbury Fields School (0.5 miles), City of London Academy Highbury Grove (0.7 miles) and Lift Beacon High (0.7 miles).
St Mary Magdalene AcademyHighbury Fields SchoolCity of London Academy Highbury GroveLift Beacon High
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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from March 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's October 2022 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Sacred Heart is a happy, welcoming place where children feel safe and eager to learn. The school excels at teaching reading through its carefully planned phonics programme and gives parents excellent support to help at home. Teachers create a calm environment with clear expectations, so pupils focus on learning and building strong relationships with each other.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics and early reading programme with well-matched books and excellent parent communication
- Well-sequenced mathematics curriculum that helps pupils build understanding step-by-step
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs through work with parents and outside agencies
- Calm, respectful school culture with clear behaviour expectations and quick response to any bullying
- Broad curriculum with good enrichment activities including visits and after-school clubs
Areas for Improvement
- Some subject leaders are new to their roles and need to develop deeper understanding of how their subjects should progress from early years through Year 6
- Guidance for staff in subjects like history needs to be strengthened to improve curriculum delivery across all year groups
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective - leaders understand potential risks, staff are vigilant and well-trained, and pupils are kept safe with swift reporting of concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
Science club, dance club, visits to Gillespie Park and Ecology Centre, visits to Union Chapel, Year 6 residential visit to Cardfields, breakfast club, after-school provision
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is a good school where leaders have developed an ambitious curriculum that encourages curiosity and a love of learning. The school is calm, welcoming, and safe, with pupils who behave well and feel supported by caring staff.
At a Glance
52.3%
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 remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 60% to 78% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.7
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
10
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Before and after school care
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Islington
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.
- AllKidsCan @ St Mary Magdalene (Islington)400m away · Not yet graded
- The Strings Club - Islington Holiday Camp (Drayton Park Primary)560m away · Not yet graded
- Sparks Islington850m away · Not yet graded
- North London Deaf Play Scheme850m away · Not yet graded
- Perform Hq870m away · Not yet graded
- Best Grade After School Club940m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Islington's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 193
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 36
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 193 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 36 serious and 157 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise.
33 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 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 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School.
- Islington publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Islington 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
93%
Near capacity
391 pupils
420 places
29 spare places 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 Islington council
Places available
1,760
Applications
1,683
Got 1st preference
79.4%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All primary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
69
SEN Support
34
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
434
Total Pupils
233
Boys
201
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
22
Teachers
19.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£69,657
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,330
Per pupil
£3380k
Total funding
£317k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.0%
Overall absence
16.7%
Persistent absence
354
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
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 71% reached the expected standard in reading and 78% did so in maths.
What is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 420 places.
How big are the classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Classes at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School average 24.7 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School has around 434 pupils on roll. 52% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
6% of sessions were missed at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 16.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming Sacred Heart 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 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 6 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School: AllKidsCan @ St Mary Magdalene (Islington) (400m away, registered, not yet graded), The Strings Club - Islington Holiday Camp (Drayton Park Primary) (560m away, registered, not yet graded) and Sparks Islington (850m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 193 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 36 serious and 157 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 3 on a bicycle and 4 in a vehicle or otherwise. 33 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 Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School?
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School is at 68 Georges Road, Holloway, London, N7 8JN.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)