St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
96%
Capacity
201
Pupils
1.7x
Demand
About St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Parent feedback at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is strong, with the school oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake. For 27 places, the school received 45 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.67, and all 20 first-preference applicants were offered a place. This suggests a solid local reputation, particularly among families who value the school's Roman Catholic character. The school is a state primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 5 to 11, with a current roll of 201 against a capacity of 210, leaving a small number of spare places. It is led by headteacher Margaret Sanderson and sits within the Isle of Wight local authority.
Academically, the school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2018 rated it Good overall, with Good for leadership and management and Good for early years provision. An ungraded inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. However, Key Stage 2 outcomes in the 2023/24 academic year are below the local authority average. Just 26% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Isle of Wight average of 52%. The school ranks 34th out of 35 primary schools in the local authority on this measure. Individual subject scores show 59% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, 41% in writing and 48% in maths, with average scores of 103 in reading and 102 in maths. Only 4% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects.
The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, library, art studios, music rooms, a sensory room and a chapel. Sports provision includes netball, tennis, gymnastics and swimming, and there are clubs for chess, science and gardening. SEND support is available for pupils with moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and physical disability. The school is oversubscribed, so families applying from outside the Catholic community should be aware that faith-based admissions criteria are likely to apply. For those seeking an alternative, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Nine Acres Primary School, 0.9 km away. This school will suit families who prioritise a faith-based environment and are comfortable with academic results that fall below the local average.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 5 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | High Street, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 1NR |
| Headteacher | Margaret Sanderson |
| Local Authority | Isle of Wight |
| Number of Pupils | 201 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 14.9% |
| School Capacity | 201 / 210 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Jul 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (13 Jul 2023): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 23 Feb 2018. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (26%)
13426th of 13,686
Nationally
2003rd of 2,034
In South East
34th of 35
In Isle of Wight
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
26%
Expected Standard
4%
Higher Standard
'22/23
56%
'23/24
26%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
7Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed27
45
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
20 families put this school as their 1st choice (44% 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
07:45-08:45
After-school care
15:15-17:30
Source: stthomaspri.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/25Half 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%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British81.1%
- Asian5.0%
- Mixed4.5%
- White (other)2.0%
- Black1.5%
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.
Half 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.
6
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
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
High Street, Newport
Isle of Wight, PO30 1NR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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