St Francis Catholic Primary School

About St Francis Catholic Primary School

St Francis Catholic Primary School in Walsall is clearly a popular choice among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 40 applications for just 24 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.67. Of those applications, 21 were first-preference choices, and all 21 were offered a place. This level of demand suggests a strong reputation in the community, though the school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage to confirm that directly. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed genders, with a nursery provision for children aged three and above. It has a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections. The headteacher is Dawn Richards, and the school currently has 212 pupils on roll, just slightly above its official capacity of 210.

Academically, St Francis performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Walsall local authority average of 61%. This places the school 12th out of 58 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top 25% nationally. In individual subjects, 84% of pupils met the expected standard in both reading and maths, and 81% in writing. At the higher standard, 16% achieved the top marks across all three subjects. Average scores were 105 in reading and 108 in maths, both above the national average of 100. The school does not publish progress scores for any subject, so it is not possible to say how much value it adds relative to pupils' starting points.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, a sensory room, an ICT suite, art studios, a library and a chapel. Sports on offer include netball, tennis, dance and cross country, while clubs include chess, science club, gardening, choir and eco club. The school has identified SEND provisions for moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. With a 32.2% rate of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively diverse intake. St Francis is a good fit for Catholic families in Walsall who want a faith-based primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear sense of community, though oversubscription means early application is advisable.

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