Schools by area › Lewisham › Rathfern Primary School
Rathfern Primary School
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Community school
Rathfern Road, Catford, London SE6 4NL · rathfern.lewisham.sch.uk · 020 8690 3759
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 82%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Lewisham 68%, England 62%
- Last distance offered
- 0.78 mi
- 1.26 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Lewisham Council
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 484
- 94% of 515 places
- Local authority
- Lewisham
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 21.2%
- First language not English
- 30.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.78 mi (1.26 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.66 mi (1.05 km). Source: Lewisham Council’s document.
For Reception in September 2026, 63 families put the school first and 59 places were offered; 89% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 59 | 63 | 1.1▲ | 89% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 60 | 66 | 1.1▲ | 86% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 59 | 78 | 1.3▲ | 67% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 60 | 91 | 1.5▲ | 57% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 59 | 106 | 1.8▲ | 55% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.78 mi1.26 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.66 mi1.05 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.42 mi0.68 km | |
| September 2023 | 0.42 mi0.68 km | |
Results
In 2024/25, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 8% the higher standard. Across Lewisham it was 68%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲82% | 62% | ||
| ●8% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ▲111 | 106 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
| ▲111 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Rathfern Primary School on 20 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Strong standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Strong standard
- Personal development and well-being: Strong standard
- Early years: Strong standard
- Leadership and governance: Strong standard
- Inspected
- 20 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Strong standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
Previously: Remains Outstanding, ungraded inspection, Sept 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Sept 2021Ungraded inspectionRemains Outstanding
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Dec 2015Outstanding
Outcomes for pupils Outstanding Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Outstanding Personal development, behaviour and welfare Outstanding Leadership and management Outstanding Early years Outstanding Safeguarding Effective Mar 2011Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
98% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (177 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 98%
- Positive
- 97%
- Replies
- 177
- 36% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on 11 parents (6%) whose child was bullied
based on 23 parents (13%) with SEND