Community school · Lewisham

Rathfern Primary School

2–11Ages
484Pupils
PrimaryPhase
100700URN

Rathfern Road, Catford, London, SE6 4NL · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

4.2per place

1.2 above Lewisham median (3.1)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Lewisham

250 applications for 59 places · 12th of 56 in Lewisham

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

82%met the expected standard

Lewisham 70% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 20 January 2026Published 7 June 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard
Inclusion		Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching		Strong standard
Achievement			Expected standard
Attendance and behaviour		Strong standard
Personal development and wellbeing		Strong standard
Early years		Strong standard
Post-16 provision	Does not apply to this school
Leadership and governance		Strong standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

20 January 2026
Report card · 6 Strong standard, 1 Expected standard
29 September 2021
Ungraded inspection: School remains Outstanding

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

4.2applications per place, Reception

1.2 above Lewisham median (3.1) 2.1 above England median (2.2)

250 applications · 59 places offered · 63 named it first

2026 4.2; Lewisham median median 3.1
2025 4.7; Lewisham median median 3.2
2024 5.2; Lewisham median median 3.2
2023 5.9; Lewisham median median 3.2
2022 6.1; Lewisham median median 3.2
2021 6.1; Lewisham median median 3.3
2020 3.6; Lewisham median median 3.5
2019 3.4; Lewisham median median 3.4
2018 4.5; Lewisham median median 3.5
2017 4.9; Lewisham median median 3.7
2016 4.4; Lewisham median median 4.0
2015 4.2; Lewisham median median 4.1
2014 4.1; Lewisham median median 4.2

This school
Lewisham median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	59	250	4.2	63	1.07
Sep 2025	60	279	4.7	66	1.10
Sep 2024	59	309	5.2	78	1.32
Sep 2023	60	356	5.9	91	1.52
Sep 2022	59	357	6.1	106	1.80
Sep 2021	60	364	6.1	105	1.75
Sep 2020	90	320	3.6	85	0.94
Sep 2019	90	304	3.4	83	0.92
Sep 2018	59	266	4.5	63	1.07
Sep 2017	60	292	4.9	87	1.45
Sep 2016	60	266	4.4	65	1.08
Sep 2015	60	253	4.2	68	1.13
Sep 2014	60	246	4.1	73	1.22

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 87% · Writing 85% · Maths 85% → all three 82% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard82%8th of 63 in Lewisham

Lewisham 70% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard87%

Lewisham 81% England 78%

Higher standard57%

Lewisham 40% England 33%

Average scaled score 111 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard85%

Lewisham 76% England 75%

Greater depth8%

Lewisham 13% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard85%

Lewisham 79% England 77%

Higher standard47%

Lewisham 29% England 24%

Average scaled score 110 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Lewisham median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	82%	8%	111	110
2023/24	53%	5%	104	105
2022/23	67%	5%	106	106

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Rathfern Primary SchoolThis school
This school

2026

4.2applications per place 82%met the SATs standard
Kilmorie Primary School
0.6 km · Lewisham

Good2024

2.9applications per place 66%met the SATs standard
St William of York Catholic Primary School
0.6 km · Lewisham

Good2022

2.4applications per place 72%met the SATs standard
Dalmain Primary School
0.8 km · Lewisham

Graded · no overall grade2024

4.8applications per place 71%met the SATs standard
Rushey Green Primary School
1.0 km · Lewisham

Good2022

4.0applications per place 49%met the SATs standard
Holbeach Primary School
1.0 km · Lewisham

Remains Good2023

3.2applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Athelney Primary School
1.0 km · Lewisham

2026

2.4applications per place 43%met the SATs standard
Stillness Junior School
1.0 km · Lewisham

Standards maintained2024

83%met the SATs standard
Stillness Infant School
1.0 km · Lewisham

2026

3.2applications per place

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 100700 · 209/2493
Capacity: 515 pupils · 484 on roll
Free school meals: 21.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Address: Rathfern Road, Catford, London, SE6 4NL
Local authority: Lewisham

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources