St Philip's CofE Primary School

About St Philip's CofE Primary School

St Philip's CofE Primary School in Bradford is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 3 to 11, with a Church of England character. It currently has 225 pupils against a capacity of 236, so it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 39.1%, which is notably high compared with the national average and signals a catchment with significant economic need. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 78 applications for just 23 places, with 22 of those coming as first preferences. That gives an oversubscription ratio of 3.39, meaning nearly three and a half families apply for every spot. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and the headteacher is Michelle Hargreaves.

Academically, St Philip's performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Bradford average of 59%. That places the school 42nd out of 153 primary schools in the local authority, comfortably inside the top 50. At the higher standard, 3% of pupils achieved that top tier across all three subjects. Reading scores are a particular strength: 90% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 107. Maths also performed well, with 83% at the expected level and an average score of 105. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2017, rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed it remains Good.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including playing fields, an ICT suite, an outdoor playground, a Forest School and a chapel. Sports provision covers football, cross country, gymnastics, athletics, netball, cricket and dance, while clubs extend to drama, film, chess, science, book club and coding. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication difficulties. Given its oversubscription and strong local ranking, this is a school that suits families who prioritise academic attainment above the local average, value a Church of England foundation, and want a full primary journey from nursery through to Year 6. It is not a boarding school and has no sixth form.

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