SchoolScoresSt Nicholas CEVC Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
London Road, Strood, Rochester, ME2 3HU
01634 717120 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
At the inspection that started on 17 June 2025, 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 | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
34 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Rochester comparisons use the 21 of its 34 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 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 | Rochester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 16th highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 27% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 21st highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 4% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 21st highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 3% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 19 parents whose child had been bullied 13th highest of 15 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 13% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 37% | 50% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 30 parents who had raised a concern 19th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 4% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 53% | 77% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 21st highest of 21 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Rochester. Higher than 6% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 23%). 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. Rochester figures pool parents at the Rochester 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Medway. 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 | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 70 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
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 Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Medway | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 19th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.0% | 28.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 24th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 2.1%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 14th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 16.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 11th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 18.9%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 8th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 69% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 5.6%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 16th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 48% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.0% | 15.0%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 33rd lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.4 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 19th lowest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 24th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 28% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.6 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 24th highest of 34 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 35% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.9 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 29th highest of 33 state primary schools in Rochester. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 16.3%* | 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
- Gordons Children's Academy, Junior 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gordons Children's Academy, Infant 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- All Faiths Children's Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), some aspects weaker 2025 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Elaine Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- English Martyrs' Catholic Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Temple Mill Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cedar Children's Academy 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rochester Riverside CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Hilltop Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Andrew's School (Rochester) 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Nicholas CEVC Primary School's Ofsted rating?
At its inspection in 17 June 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.
Would parents recommend St Nicholas CEVC Primary School?
65% of the 34 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Nicholas CEVC Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Nicholas CEVC Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put St Nicholas CEVC Primary School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 18 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 118643.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.