St Nicholas Church of England Primary School

About St Nicholas Church of England Primary School

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School in Rutland was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2011. The inspection highlighted leadership and management as Outstanding, the highest possible grade, which is a strong indicator of the school's direction. On the academic front, the most telling metric is the Key Stage 2 combined reading, writing and maths expected standard, where 81% of pupils met the benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure comfortably exceeds the Rutland local authority average of 70%, placing the school fifth out of 17 primary schools in the area and in the top 10% nationally. This performance is especially notable given the school's small size, with just 134 pupils on roll.

Digging deeper into the 2023/24 KS2 results, the school's strengths are clear. In maths, every single pupil (100%) reached the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 106, and 13% achieved the higher standard. Reading was similarly strong, with 88% at expected and an average score of 108, while 44% of pupils hit the higher threshold. Writing was the relative weak spot, with 81% at expected and only 6% reaching greater depth, but the overall combined figure of 81% is well above the national average. The school does not publish Progress 8 scores, so it is hard to measure value-added directly, but the raw outcomes suggest pupils arrive with solid foundations and leave well prepared for secondary school. The Ofsted report also noted that the school remains Good, with no areas flagged for concern, and the Outstanding leadership grade suggests strong oversight of teaching and learning.

The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, with 22 applications for just 9 places and a ratio of 2.44 applicants per place, so parents will need to apply early. It is a Church of England primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. Facilities include an ICT suite, gymnasium, outdoor playground, dining hall and a chapel, and the school offers a broad range of sports from football and netball to swimming and gymnastics, plus clubs like gardening, drama and choir. SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication support. With a relatively low free school meals rate of 9.7%, the school serves a fairly affluent catchment, and its small size means a close-knit, community feel. This is a good fit for families who value strong academic outcomes in a supportive, faith-based setting.

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