St Stephen's Catholic Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 5 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Ruskin Avenue, Welling, DA16 3QG

020 8303 9738 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 exceptional, 6 strongSafeguarding met · 15 April 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths93%England 62% · 2024/25
1st highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 99% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils419Room for 420 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 415 in 2019, 420 in 2021, 412 in 2022, 420 in 2023, 418 in 2024, 418 in 2025, 419 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.483 for 59 places, September 2026
1st highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 97% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 15 April 2026 , published 7 June 2026.

In short: 1 exceptional, 6 strong, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Exceptional The highest of five grades. Ofsted judged this among the best nationally.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Strong standard Second of five grades. Better than the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

60 pupils in this year group.

93% — 26 points above the Bexley average, and 31 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBexleyEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 93% 67% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 45% 13% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 95% 78% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 95% 77% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 95% 76% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 112 107 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 113 106 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 87%This school 2023/24: 92%This school 2024/25: 93% This school England 62% 2022/23 87% 2023/24 92% 2024/25 93%

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 Bexley. 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.

Places offered59
Families who put it first83
Of those, offered a place57 (69%)
Families who listed it at all181

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.4

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Bexley

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBexleyEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
8th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.0% 19.6%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
1.9% 4.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
8.4% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
32.3% 26.8%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
2nd lowest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Lower than 96% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.2% 4.8%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
2nd lowest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
2.7% 11.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 1.8 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.0% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.01% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
8th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
20.1 21.3 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 78% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
12.5 11.4 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
6th highest of 9 state primary schools in Welling.
Higher than 52% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
12.8% 16.2%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Stephen's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

St Stephen's Catholic Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 15 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 exceptional, 6 strong, and safeguarding was met.

How did St Stephen's Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 31 points above the England average of 62%.

Is St Stephen's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 83 families put St Stephen's Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 59 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 57 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.