SchoolScoresSt Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of BLESSED CHRISTOPHER WHARTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Tong Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford, BD4 9PY
01274 681961 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 23 January 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
21 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
Bradford comparisons use the 55 of its 108 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 53 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 49th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 88% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 35th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 86% | 90% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 38th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 13% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 17th highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 47% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 54% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 16 parents who had raised a concern 48th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 1% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 72% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 41st highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 9% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71%said yes | 81% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Bradford figures pool parents at the Bradford schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
48 pupils in this year group.
58% — 2 points below the Bradford average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 58% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 69% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Bradford. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 49 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 46 |
| Of those, offered a place | 46 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 88 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 28th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 42.0% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 16th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.3% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 22nd highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.6% | 14.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 57th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 36.2% | 39.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 85th lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 81st lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 22.0% | 16.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 75th lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 81st lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 57th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 60% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.4 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 106th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 5% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.1 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 47th highest of 106 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 58% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.8% | 15.1%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Knowleswood Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2016, before conversion) · 20% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ryecroft Primary Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2025 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Newhall Park Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2021 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lower Fields Primary Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Carrwood Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 30% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meadow Bank Community School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- East Bierley CofE Voluntary Controlled Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bowling Park Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Co-op Academy Beckfield 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 23 January 2024.
How did St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
71% of the 21 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 46 families put St Columba's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 49 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 46 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 148258.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.