St Nicholas Primary School

About St Nicholas Primary School

St Nicholas Primary School in Kingston upon Hull is a clear standout when you look at its Key Stage 2 results against the local authority average. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 65%, St Nicholas achieves 79% — a full 14 percentage points higher. That places it 10th out of 69 primary schools in the authority, comfortably inside the top 25% nationally. The school’s average scaled scores are also strong: 108 in reading and 107 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 11% of pupils hit the top marks across all three subjects, with 32% reaching that level in reading and maths individually. For a relatively small school of 208 pupils, these are punchy results that suggest consistent, effective teaching across the board.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2018 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for leadership and management, early years provision, and the quality of education. An ungraded inspection in December 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. The previous inspection in 2011 had rated leadership and management as Requires Improvement, so the trajectory is clearly positive. Progress scores aren’t published in the data, but the attainment figures speak for themselves. With 86% of pupils reaching the expected standard in maths and 89% in reading, the school is comfortably outperforming most of its Hull peers. The 16.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals is slightly below the national average, but the school’s results suggest it’s doing well for its cohort regardless.

St Nicholas is a non-denominational state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form. It’s oversubscribed: for 27 places in 2025/26, there were 77 applications, giving a ratio of 2.85 applicants per place, and all 26 first-preference applicants received an offer. The school has a good range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, gymnasium, playing fields, and art studios. Sports on offer include athletics, gymnastics, cricket, dance, and football, while clubs cover chess, book club, and science club. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support. For families in Hull looking for a primary that delivers strong academic results without being selective or faith-based, St Nicholas is a compelling option — though you’ll need to apply early given the competition for places.

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