St Thomas More Catholic Primary School, Coventry Review 2026: High-performing Catholic primary with strong KS2 outcomes

A Catholic primary with an unusually consistent results profile for a state school, and a clear emphasis on behaviour, early reading, and a broad curriculum. The February 2024 Ofsted inspection judged the school Good overall, with Outstanding for Behaviour and attitudes.

KS2 outcomes (2024) are a headline strength. 86% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%. Higher standard outcomes are also notable, which matters for families with high prior attainment. (See Results for the detail.)

For working parents, wraparound care is a practical differentiator, with provision from 7.15am to 5.30pm for all year groups, including nursery.

The clearest insight into day-to-day culture is the consistency between the school’s Catholic mission and its routines. The admissions arrangements explicitly frame the school’s ethos as Catholic, and the school asks families to support that character in practice, not just on paper.

Behaviour is treated as a shared language across ages. Nursery information references school rules and routines early, which usually signals a calm, structured start for three and four year olds. The tone is inclusive and pupil-centred in official descriptions, with relationships and trust presented as central to how pupils settle and speak up when they need help.

Leadership has changed since the last inspection cycle. The school’s website and the Get Information About Schools listing both name Mrs Clare Staines as headteacher. A parish bulletin dated 25 May 2025 reported her appointment as the new headteacher, which helps parents place the leadership timeline.

A distinctive practical detail is the site itself. A government announcement recorded that the school moved into a newly rebuilt building as part of the Priority School Building Programme, with an official reopening ceremony in November 2014. That matters because a newer building often supports better accessibility, circulation space, and specialist areas for computing, group work, and interventions.

This is where the school separates itself from many local options.

Core combined measure (KS2, 2024)

• 86.33% met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%.

Higher standard (KS2, 2024)

• 29% achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 8%.

Scaled scores (KS2, 2024)

• Reading: 108

• Maths: 107

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling: 108

These figures point to a cohort performing well above typical expectations, with breadth across the tested areas rather than a single spike.

Rankings context (FindMySchool, based on official data)

Ranked 2,409th in England and 8th in Coventry for primary outcomes, placing it above the England average and comfortably within the top 25% of primary schools in England. (FindMySchool ranking based on official data.)

For parents comparing options, the FindMySchool Local Hub and the Comparison Tool are useful for checking how these outcomes stack up against nearby primaries year by year, rather than relying on reputation.

Curriculum ambition is a stated priority, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, and the approach appears to be built around clarity and retention. External review activity in early reading, mathematics, computing and history indicates these areas have received focused attention in curriculum planning and implementation.

Early reading is usually the place where strong primaries show their intent most clearly, because phonics teaching needs whole-staff consistency. The school’s results profile, especially the high proportion meeting the combined expected standard, suggests the basics are embedded effectively before Year 6.

Computing is also worth calling out, because it is easy for primary computing to become occasional rather than systematic. The inclusion of computing in the inspection deep dives, alongside evidence of structured curriculum planning for 2025 to 2026, points to more deliberate sequencing than families often find at this phase.

As a primary school, the main transition question is Year 6 to Year 7. Coventry families typically move on through the coordinated secondary admissions system, and choices vary depending on faith preference, travel patterns, and whether families pursue selective routes.

A practical point for families with nursery children is that nursery attendance does not create an automatic pathway into Reception. Parents must still apply through the normal admissions round, and applications are considered against the oversubscription criteria regardless of nursery attendance.

Reception admissions are competitive. In the most recent admissions dataset provided here, there were 62 applications for 30 offers, indicating oversubscription of just over two applicants per place.

The published admission number for Reception (entry in September 2026) is 30. The admissions arrangements set out a clear Catholic priority order when the school is oversubscribed, beginning with looked after or previously looked after children who are baptised Catholic, then baptised Catholic children with a sibling at the school, then other baptised Catholic children, followed by non-Catholic children in looked after categories, then siblings, and finally other applicants.

If your child is baptised Catholic, the policy requires that a baptismal certificate is submitted to support the application.

Key dates for September 2026 Reception entry (Coventry)

• Applications opened 01 September 2025

• On-time deadline was 15 January 2026

• National offer date is 16 April 2026

Late applications after 15 January 2026 are processed after the offer date, with a later allocation round noted for May 2026.

Families who want a realistic view of chances should combine the published admission number with their address-based distance and category position. FindMySchoolMap Search is useful for checking your exact home-to-gate distance, then comparing it to patterns from previous years, while recognising that outcomes vary annually.

Safeguarding is framed as a whole-school responsibility in both the admissions arrangements and wider policy documentation. The school also identifies the headteacher as the Designated Safeguarding Lead in published contact information, which helps parents understand who holds statutory responsibility.

Pastoral practice is also reflected in routine structures. Wraparound care covers all year groups including nursery, and activities listed for this provision include arts and crafts, games, outdoor play, cooking and computing, which usually supports both social development and a calm end-of-day transition for pupils staying later.

The latest Ofsted report states that the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

The school’s extracurricular offer is more specific than many primaries, which helps children find a niche early.

Music is a visible pillar. The school offers choir, and the music page also references Rock Steady Foundation sessions, where pupils learn instruments and perform in bands.

Clubs are not just adult-led. The inspection report notes pupil-run clubs, including a Rubik’s Cube club and a language club where pupils share languages spoken by classmates, a strong indicator of inclusion and pupil agency at primary age.

Sport runs as a steady thread too, with after-school links referenced to local football, netball and Gaelic football. For many families, that combination of music, pupil-led interest groups, and sport makes the school feel broader than a SATs-focused primary, even when results are strong.

The published school day structure is clear and family-friendly:

• Nursery gate opens at 8.30am (until 8.35am)

• Reception to Year 6 gates open from 8.40am, with registration at 8.50am

• The school day includes a 15-minute morning break, and nursery lunch runs 11.20am to 12.20pm

Wraparound care is offered through Care Club from 7.15am to 5.30pm in term time, including nursery.

For travel, this is a Styvechale primary in Coventry, so most families use a mix of walking, short car journeys, and local bus routes depending on where they live. If you are weighing feasibility with siblings and work schedules, it helps to test the commute at drop-off time, not just at weekends.

• Faith-based oversubscription rules: Priority is structured around Catholic baptism and parish criteria when the school is oversubscribed. Families who are not Catholic can apply, but should read the priority order carefully and be realistic about likelihood in competitive years.

• Leadership transition: The headteacher at the February 2024 inspection was Sarah Collins, while the school now lists Mrs Clare Staines as headteacher. Leadership changes can bring positive momentum, but they can also mean policy and curriculum shifts during the first full year or two.

• Curriculum still bedding in for some subjects: External review notes that parts of the curriculum were relatively new at the time of inspection, and staff development was still needed in some areas to support long-term retention. This is common in schools refining curriculum sequencing, but it is worth asking about current progress.

• Nursery does not guarantee Reception: Families using nursery as a stepping stone should plan early for the separate Reception application and supporting paperwork.

Strong KS2 outcomes, a well-structured school day, and wraparound care that genuinely supports working families make this a compelling option in Coventry. It suits families who want high academic standards alongside a clear Catholic identity, and who value behaviour and pupil-led clubs as part of daily life. The main hurdle is admission, particularly for non-Catholic families in oversubscribed years.