SchoolScoresSt Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic · Nursery class
Part of BLESSED CHRISTOPHER WHARTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Myers Lane, Bradford, BD2 4ES
01274 638520 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 January 2013. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 4 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 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 Joint 16th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 88% | 89% |
| 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 Joint 24th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 84% | 81% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 16 parents whose child had been bullied 21st highest of 37 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 54% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 38 parents who had raised a concern Joint 26th highest of 52 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 26% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 72% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 17 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 12 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 56% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 64% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 29th highest of 55 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Bradford. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 81% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 19%). 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
30 pupils in this year group.
60% — about the same as the Bradford average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Bradford | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 60% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 7% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 73% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 60% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 35 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (83%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 99 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.3 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 1.2
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 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 105th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.0% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 24th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 15th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.1% | 14.4%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 89th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 39.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 2nd lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 93% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.4% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 1st lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 93% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.3% | 16.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 91st lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 6.7 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 82nd lowest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 88% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 24.3 | 21.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 54th highest of 108 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 25th highest of 106 state primary schools in Bradford. Higher than 82% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 24.2% | 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
- Grove House Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Swain House Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011), confirmed 2023 · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wellington Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Poplars Farm Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Peel Park Primary School and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Luke's CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), some aspects weaker 2025 · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cavendish Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2020 · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blakehill Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fagley Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed 2024 · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Clare's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 January 2013. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 4 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 2 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
81% of the 43 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 35 families put St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy as their first choice for 30 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 147922.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 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.