St Urban's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

About St Urban's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

St Urban's Catholic Primary School in Leeds is a popular choice for local families, and the numbers explain why. With 204 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is essentially full, and its admission data for 2025/26 tells a story of significant demand: 103 applications for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.43. All 25 first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the remaining 78 families who applied will have looked elsewhere. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals sits at 13.2%, which is below the national average for primary schools, suggesting a relatively affluent intake. As a Roman Catholic voluntary academy, the school's religious character is likely a draw for some families, though the high number of applications from beyond the immediate faith community indicates its broader appeal in the Leeds area.

Academically, St Urban's performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Leeds local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 34th out of 204 primary schools in the authority, placing it in the top 25% nationally. Results are particularly strong in reading, where 83% met the expected standard and 53% achieved the higher standard, and in maths, where the average scaled score was 107 and 43% reached the higher threshold. Ofsted's most recent inspection in November 2022 rated the school Good overall, with Outstanding marks for personal development and for behaviour and attitudes. The early years provision was also rated Good, and the previous inspection in 2007 had awarded Outstanding across the board, so the current rating represents a slight dip but remains solid.

The school offers a range of facilities that support both learning and wellbeing, including an ICT suite, a sensory room, a forest school area, art studios and a chapel. Sports provision covers tennis, football, dance, netball and cricket, while clubs extend to book club, drama, eco club, chess, film club and gardening. For families with children who have additional needs, St Urban's has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is a good fit for Catholic families or those who value a faith-based education, but its strong academic record and oversubscribed status mean that applying early and as a first preference is essential. It is not a boarding school and does not offer nursery or sixth-form provision.

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