SchoolScoresSt John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa
Independent special school · All-through, ages 3 to 19 · Mixed · Nursery class · Sixth form · Boarding
Church Street, Boston Spa, Wetherby, LS23 6DF
01937 842144 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 7 February 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 |
| Sixth form | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted non-association independent schools inspection data.
What parents say
26 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025.
| Statement | This school | England |
|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school | 81% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school | 88% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved | 85% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 11 parents whose child had been bullied | 55% | 50% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 22 parents who had raised a concern | 73% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent | 85%said yes | 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. 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
We don't show GCSE or primary results for independent schools. DfE's tables often leave out the IGCSEs and other qualifications many independent schools use, so their published figures can look far lower than pupils' real results. DfE has published no A level results for this school. Ask the school for its results.
Admissions
Independent schools run their own admissions and set their own fees. Contact the school directly.
Pupils, staff and SEND
This is a special school for children with an education, health and care plan (EHCP). Places are arranged through the council's SEND team, not the normal admissions round. It caters for: Hearing impairment; Multi-sensory impairment.
| Pupils | This school | Leeds | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years | 26.2% | 53.1%* | 51.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan | 100.0% | 99.5%* | 99.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support | 0.0% | 0.5%* | 0.5% |
| English as an additional language | 3.7% | 14.2%* | 14.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) | 15.8% | 14.0%* | 12.8% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) | 27.9% | 35.5%* | 35.3% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 4.9 | 1.9 | 12.3 |
| Pupils suspended at least once | 4.9% | 1.5% | 5.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 1.22% | 0.04% | 0.08% |
Comparisons are with special schools. * 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Questions parents ask
What is St John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa's Ofsted rating?
St John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 7 February 2024.
Would parents recommend St John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa?
85% of the 26 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 1 January 2024 and 6 January 2025 said they would recommend St John's Catholic Specialist School, Boston Spa to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 108120.
- Inspections: Ofsted non-association independent schools management information, data to 31 July 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 1 January 2024 to 6 January 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.