St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery
113%
Capacity
136
Pupils
3.2x
Demand
About St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery
St Paul's CofE Primary School & Nursery in Guildford is a Church of England state primary for children aged 2 to 8, currently educating 136 pupils against a capacity of 120, meaning it is operating slightly above its official number. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 11.9%, which is lower than the national average for primary schools, reflecting the relatively affluent Surrey context. Demand for places is notably high: for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 96 applications for 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.2 to one. Of those applicants, 44 named St Paul's as their first preference, and 27 of those were offered a place. This level of competition suggests the school is a popular choice among local families, particularly those seeking a faith-based setting with nursery provision from age two.
Academically, St Paul's holds a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in September 2023, a rating it has maintained consistently across both its recent inspections. The inspection report awarded Good across all five key categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. While the school does not publish Key Stage 2 results on this dataset, the local authority average for KS2 attainment in Surrey is 66, and the school sits within a competitive landscape where top-performing peers like South Farnham School and The Raleigh School score highly on ranking metrics. The school's small size and early-years focus mean it feeds into other local primaries or middle schools after Year 2, so parents should consider transition arrangements carefully.
The school offers a strong set of facilities for its size, including a sensory room, forest school, chapel, sports hall, gymnasium, and art studios. Sports provision covers football, netball, gymnastics, cross country, rounders, and athletics, while after-school clubs include eco club, drama, and chess. SEND support is available for pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder. With nursery provision on site and an oversubscribed intake, St Paul's suits families who value a small, church-affiliated primary with a broad enrichment offer and who are prepared to apply early. The school's age range up to 8 means it is not a full primary, so parents will need a plan for the next stage of schooling from Year 3 onward.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 2 to 8 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | East Ring, Tongham, Farnham, Guildford, GU10 1EF |
| Headteacher | Tom Hilyard |
| Local Authority | Surrey |
| Number of Pupils | 136 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 11.9% |
| School Capacity | 136 / 120 (113% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
26 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 13 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed30
96
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
44 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:45 – 15:15
Breakfast club
07:30-08:45
After-school care
15:15-18:00
Source: stpaulstongham.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British64.7%
- Mixed10.3%
- Asian5.1%
- White (other)1.5%
- Black0.7%
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
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
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.
4
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
3
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 St Paul's CofE Primary School & 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
East Ring, Tongham, Farnham
Guildford, GU10 1EF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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