Classpot

St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

Exeter, EX1 3EGPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
1 Good · 4 Requires improvement
Sep 2024
KS2 Results
46%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.7×
Not oversubscribed
31 1st-choice / 45 places
Ranking
#11,563
of 13,686 nationally

About St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

Just over half of parents who responded to the Ofsted Parent View survey for St Nicholas Catholic Primary School would recommend it, with 58% saying yes. The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 55 applications for 45 places, giving a ratio of 1.22 applicants per spot. Of those, 31 were first-preference applications, all of which received offers. The survey, which ran from September 2024 to September 2025 and gathered 45 responses, shows a mixed picture. While 80% of parents agreed or strongly agreed their child is happy, and a similar proportion felt their child was safe, only 51% felt concerns were dealt with properly. Behaviour was a particular worry: 24% disagreed or strongly disagreed that the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 27% disagreed that bullying is handled quickly. Support for children with SEND also drew criticism, with 64% disagreeing that the school provides the help needed.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressRingswell Avenue, Exeter, Exeter, EX1 3EG
HeadteacherDamian Railston
Local AuthorityDevon
Number of Pupils326
Free School Meals (FSM)15.9%
School Capacity326 / 327 (100% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

What 45 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

24 Sept 2024
View Report
Quality of Education
Requires improvement
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires improvement
Early Years Provision
Requires improvement

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 20 Oct 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
LibraryPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsGymnasiumOutdoor PlaygroundForest SchoolChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

TennisGymnasticsSwimmingDanceCross CountryCricket

Clubs & Activities

DramaCodingBook ClubFilm Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:30 – 15:15

Breakfast club

07:45-08:30

After-school care

15:15-18:00

Source: st-nicholas-exeter.devon.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

St Nicholas Catholic Primary School has been rated "Requires Improvement" by Ofsted. This means the school is not yet good, but inspectors believe it can improve with the right support and changes.