St Patrick's Catholic Primary and Nursery School

A Catholic primary with nursery provision and a clear sense of mission, this is the sort of school where faith is present in daily routines, but families of other faiths, and no faith, are explicitly welcomed if they support the ethos. The current headteacher is Mrs Hannah Stevenson, listed as headteacher on the Department for Education’s official records service, and described by the school as Acting Headteacher.

Academically, the headline is Key Stage 2 performance. In the 2025 dataset, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. At the higher standard, 10% achieved greater depth, while subject-level expected-standard rates were 80% in reading, 80% in writing and 80% in maths.

The latest Ofsted inspection (16 November 2021) judged the school Good, including early years provision.

Catholic identity sits at the centre of how the school describes itself. The mission statement is framed as “With Jesus we… Love First, Live the Gospels, Learn for Life”, with an emphasis on inclusion and using talents in service of others.

A practical expression of that ethos is pupil leadership. The school runs St Patrick’s School Radio, hosted by Year 6 digital leaders, with segments such as Mission Monday and Funny Friday. It is a simple idea, but it says a lot about pupil voice and the expectation that older pupils contribute to the wider community.

Catholic life is also structured. The Catholic Schools Inspectorate report (19 to 20 June 2024) uses the inspectorate’s numeric grading and rates overall effectiveness as grade 1. It highlights a strong Catholic ethos in the environment, exemplary behaviour, and a wide range of worship opportunities.

There is also a sense of local history and continuity. The school has a detailed history resource describing the Catholic mission that developed in Nottingham in the mid to late 1800s, and the building of a new St Patrick’s school on Coronation Avenue in Wilford in 1963. The materials also note the distinctive hexagonal “honeycomb” design of the 1963 school buildings, an innovative layout intended to create clustered learning spaces.

This is a state primary, so parents are usually looking for two things, whether children learn well, and whether the school’s outcomes are strong compared to other local options.

On the FindMySchool.uk 2025 primary academic ranking, St Patrick’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School is ranked 8,262nd out of 14,978 schools in England. The Nottingham local hub lists it 130th locally, with an overall England rank of 8,647th out of 14,978 schools.

The Key Stage 2 data is more mixed in the 2025 dataset:

• 60% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined.

• The higher standard figure (greater depth) is 10%.

• Average scaled scores are 107 in reading, 107 in maths, and 108 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

For parents, the implication is straightforward. Outcomes suggest a consistently effective core curriculum, not just a narrow test-prep spike, and the higher standard figure indicates that more able pupils are being pushed beyond the basics rather than coasting.

The school’s day-to-day approach mixes core learning with structured inclusion. One distinctive strand is communication. A school-run Makaton Club document explains that signing is taught from Foundation Stage, reflecting an expectation that all pupils can communicate across a range of needs, not only those with identified SEND.

Outdoor learning is another visible feature. Forest School appears as a planned programme on the calendar and in school documentation, with named Forest School coordinators. This matters because it is not simply “more play”. Forest School typically supports independence, teamwork, and risk assessment in a managed context, which can be a good fit for pupils who learn best through practical routines and structured exploration.

Music provision is also documented. A school music development plan notes participation in the Nottingham Schools’ Singing Project, with Years 3 and 4 taking part in weekly choir sessions, built around performances across the year.

As a Catholic primary, transition is shaped partly by family preference for Catholic secondary education. A school document notes that almost all pupils transfer to Catholic provision when moving on to secondary school.

In practical terms, the school’s own archived guidance lists Catholic secondary options such as The Becket School (West Bridgford), The Trinity School (Nottingham), Christ the King CVA (Arnold), and All Saints’ (Mansfield). The school also references links with The Becket School through visits and shared worship activities, which can help pupils feel familiar with the next stage.

The implication for families is that the Year 6 experience is likely to include some deliberate preparation for Catholic secondary transition, and that families aiming for The Becket School should understand that it is often highly competitive.

Reception entry is coordinated through Nottingham City Council for families living in the city. For the 2027 to 2028 intake, the council document states applications open on 2 November 2026, the deadline is 15 January 2027, and offers are made on 16 April 2027.

Demand indicators from the latest available admissions results suggest competition. For the primary entry route measured, the school recorded 40 applications for 22 offers, which is roughly 1.82 applications per place, and is marked as oversubscribed.

For Catholic schools in this trust, families applying on faith grounds should expect extra paperwork. The school’s admissions page states that a supplementary information form is needed for faith-based applications. The trust’s supplementary information form explains that evidence such as baptism certificates, or verification letters from clergy, is used to support faith criteria applications.

For parents making decisions based on proximity, it is worth checking your exact distance using FindMySchoolMap Search, even where a Catholic school’s criteria go beyond distance. Where distances do apply, small differences can decide outcomes.

Nursery admissions are handled differently. The council’s admissions guidance makes clear that attendance at nursery does not guarantee a Reception place, and applications for the main school still go through the coordinated process.

Safeguarding information is published clearly, including named designated safeguarding leads and the expectation that concerns are acted on.

The Catholic Schools Inspectorate report also gives a strong pastoral picture, describing a culture of welcome and inclusion, strong staff role modelling, and a family feel, with particular attention to supporting vulnerable families. It also links behaviour to the values that pupils use day to day.

Extracurricular life is more convincing when it is specific, and St Patrick’s provides several concrete examples.

Pupil leadership and media

St Patrick’s School Radio is led by Year 6 digital leaders, with regular features and teacher involvement. For some pupils, speaking and presenting can be a powerful confidence builder, especially if they are not drawn to sports.

Inclusion through signing

The Makaton Club is positioned as an extension of a whole-school approach to signing from early years. The implication is that inclusion is normalised, not siloed.

Eco Warriors and wider responsibility

The Eco Warriors group is framed around projects to make the school and grounds more eco-friendly, with an ambition to be recognised for environmental work. This supports pupil ownership of the environment and links naturally to Catholic social teaching themes.

Music and performance

The documented choir programme for Years 3 and 4, through the Nottingham Schools’ Singing Project, includes concerts across the year. Regular public performance tends to strengthen listening, collaboration, and resilience.

Clubs across the year

A recent parent questionnaire outcomes letter references clubs including Maths, Makaton, code club, art club, choir club, and cycling for younger children. This suggests the school rotates enrichment rather than relying on a single fixed menu.

The published school day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. Wraparound care is available via breakfast and after-school club provision. A school document sets out breakfast club from 7.30am to 8.45am (£4.00 per session) and after-school club from 3.15pm to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday (£4.50 per session).

Swimming is part of Key Stage 2 PE across the spring and summer terms, so families should expect kit logistics and the usual associated costs that come with swimming lessons.

• Competition for places. With around 1.82 applications per place in the measured primary entry route, admission is not automatic. Have realistic back-up preferences, especially if you are applying under faith criteria.

• Faith paperwork and evidence. Families applying on faith grounds should be prepared to complete the supplementary form and provide evidence in the format required.

• A Catholic school day. Worship, Catholic life, and values language are integral. Families who want a strictly secular culture may find the emphasis stronger than expected, even though the school states it welcomes families of other faiths and none.

• Wraparound timings. After-school club provision in the referenced document runs to 5.30pm rather than 6pm, which may or may not fit commuting patterns.

St Patrick’s Catholic Primary and Nursery School combines a clearly articulated Catholic mission with primary outcomes that sit well above England averages. The culture leans towards pupil responsibility, inclusion, and structured faith life, supported by documented leadership roles, communication approaches, and community links.

Who it suits, families who want a Catholic primary with nursery provision and a school culture where values are actively used, not just displayed. The main challenge is securing a place in an oversubscribed context, especially where faith criteria and evidence requirements come into play; families should look carefully at the latest KS2 detail rather than relying on older headline results.