St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class

Hadfield Street, Higher Broughton, Salford, M7 4XG

0161 470 2660 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedOutstandingInspected 6 December 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths83%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 5th highest of 74 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 91% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils503Room for 480 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 511 in 2019, 511 in 2021, 510 in 2022, 504 in 2023, 510 in 2024, 503 in 2025, 503 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.166 for 60 places, September 2026
Joint 13th highest of 75 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 85% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 6 December 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

44 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Salford comparisons use the 41 of its 76 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 35 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.

StatementThis schoolSalfordEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 1st highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 94% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
Joint 1st highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
100% 94% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 5th highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98% 90% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 14 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 15th highest of 26 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 36% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 52% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 25 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 10th highest of 38 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 65% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
88% 81% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 4th highest of 41 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Salford.
Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
98%said yes 90% 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. Salford figures pool parents at the Salford 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.

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Results

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

65 pupils in this year group.

83% — 23 points above the Salford average, and 21 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSalfordEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 83% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 15% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 85% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 89% 70% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 91% 73% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 111 105 105
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: 90%This school 2023/24: 84%This school 2024/25: 83% This school England 62% 2022/23 90% 2023/24 84% 2024/25 83%

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 Salford. 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 one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered60
Families who put it first66
Of those, offered a place58 (88%)
Families who listed it at all93

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.2 · 2026: 1.1

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 Salford

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSalfordEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
10th highest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
56.5% 35.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
12th highest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.4% 3.5%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
28th highest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
21.1% 19.0%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
17th highest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 83% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
37.0% 24.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
20th lowest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Lower than 59% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.7% 5.6%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
27th lowest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
12.9% 15.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.2 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.05% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
16th highest of 75 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 68% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
22.1 19.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
71st highest of 75 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 5% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
7.1 9.2 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
Joint 43rd highest of 76 state primary schools in Salford.
Higher than 38% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
9.5% 11.6%* 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 Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 6 December 2023.

How did St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 83% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 21 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School?

98% of the 44 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 66 families put St Thomas of Canterbury RC Primary School as their first choice for 60 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 58 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.