Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Nursery
98%
Capacity
205
Pupils
2.1x
Demand
About Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Nursery sits within the Shropshire local authority, one of 127 primary schools in the area. Among its local peers, it ranks behind Stottesdon CofE Primary School, St Lucia's CofE Primary School & Nursery, and Minsterley Primary School, which hold the top three spots in the LA's performance rankings. The school is a Roman Catholic state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, with a nursery on site. It is led by headteacher Graeme Hawes and currently has 205 pupils, operating just under its full capacity of 210. The school is notably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 37 applications for just 18 places, with 16 of those coming as first preferences. This demand suggests a strong local reputation, particularly among Catholic families in Shrewsbury. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Coleham Primary School, 1.9 km away, one of only seven primaries in the LA to hold that top grade.
Academically, Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a significant improvement from its previous Inadequate grade in 2014. Its most recent graded inspection took place in 2015, with an ungraded visit in 2019 confirming the school remains Good. Leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness were all rated Good in the 2015 inspection. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results in the available data, so direct comparison with the Shropshire LA average of 59 is not possible. However, the school's strong oversubscription and consistent Good rating suggest solid academic standards. The school has a dedicated SEN unit and offers provisions for a wide range of needs, including moderate learning difficulty, speech and language communication, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disability, alongside support for social, emotional and mental health. This inclusive approach is a clear strength.
Facilities include art studios, an ICT suite, a sensory room, a gymnasium, and a chapel, reflecting the school's Catholic character. Sports on offer range from rounders and netball to gymnastics, tennis, dance, athletics, and swimming. After-school clubs include chess, book club, art club, science club, choir, and coding. The school's nursery provision makes it a practical choice for families with younger children, and the oversubscription ratio of 2.06 means early application is essential. This school will particularly suit Catholic families in Shrewsbury who value a faith-based education with strong SEND support and a broad range of extracurricular activities. Its Good Ofsted rating, combined with its popular nursery and SEN unit, makes it a solid, well-regarded option within the local primary landscape.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | New Park Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 2SP |
| Headteacher | Graeme Hawes |
| Local Authority | Shropshire |
| Number of Pupils | 205 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 15.8% |
| School Capacity | 205 / 210 (98% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Jul 2019Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (12 Jul 2019): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 25 Nov 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
SEN UnitSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed18
37
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
16 families put this school as their 1st choice (43% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British41.0%
- Asian19.0%
- White (other)11.2%
- Mixed4.5%
- Black0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
7
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
7
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shrewsbury Cathedral Catholic Primary School and Nursery
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
New Park Road, Shrewsbury
Shropshire, SY1 2SP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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