SchoolScoresSt Nicholas Catholic Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of PLYMOUTH CAST
Ringswell Avenue, Exeter, EX1 3EG
01392 445403 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 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 | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Exeter comparisons use the 26 of its 53 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 27 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 | Exeter | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 26th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 95% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 25th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 25th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 7% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 69% | 91% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied 20th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 1% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 17% | 60% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 39 parents who had raised a concern 25th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 7% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 84% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 14 parents of children with SEND 10th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 3% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 36% | 69% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 26th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Exeter. Higher than 3% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58%said yes | 92% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Exeter figures pool parents at the Exeter 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
47 pupils in this year group.
32% — 27 points below the Devon average, and 30 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 32% | 59% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 66% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 45% | 70% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 64% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 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 Devon. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 31 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 19 |
| Of those, offered a place | 19 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 36 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.6
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 | Devon | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 20th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.4% | 20.0%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 12th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.7% | 15.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 7th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.5% | 6.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 38th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 45% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 36th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 46% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.3% | 10.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 47th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.4 | 3.3 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 50th lowest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Lower than 7% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.7% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.31% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 32nd highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 39% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.7 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 29th highest of 53 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 35th highest of 44 state primary schools in Exeter. Higher than 18% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 17.8%* | 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
- Whipton Barton Junior School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whipton Barton Infants and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023
- Woodwater Academy 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clyst Heath Nursery and Community Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed with concerns 2023 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Monkerton Community Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- St Michael's CofE Primary Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Willowbrook School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2022, before conversion) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ladysmith Infant and Nursery School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion)
- Ladysmith Junior School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024, before conversion) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Pinhoe CofE Primary School and Nursery 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 22% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Nicholas Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 24 September 2024, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
How did St Nicholas Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 32% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 30 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Nicholas Catholic Primary School?
58% of the 45 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Nicholas Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Nicholas Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 19 families put St Nicholas Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 31 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 19 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 139394.
- 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.