St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, Nottingham Review 2026

A high-expectations primary where Catholic life is integrated into the day, and academic outcomes are consistently strong. The school is part of the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Multi-Academy Trust, and admissions are coordinated through Nottingham City Council, with faith-based criteria supported by a supplementary form and baptism evidence where relevant.

Leadership is stable, with Mrs A Glynne-Jones named as headteacher in official records and on the school’s published staff information.

The most recent Ofsted inspection (September 2021) confirmed the school continues to be Outstanding.

This is a school with a defined moral and behavioural framework, shaped by its Catholic identity and reinforced through daily routines. The 2021 inspection describes pupils who feel safe and happy, with warm, trusting relationships and behaviour that is consistently calm. The language of kindness is built into how pupils are encouraged to act, including the “secret friend” approach (acts of kindness directed beyond close friendship groups).

Catholic life is presented as central rather than occasional. The school sets out prayer and worship as part of daily experience, with structured opportunities for liturgy and reflection, and pupil chaplaincy playing a visible role.

The intake is mixed and the school serves local Catholic parishes in west Nottingham. For families, the practical implication is that faith commitment, parish links, and timely paperwork can matter as much as proximity.

St Teresa’s posts results that place it among the stronger performers in England for primary outcomes. In 2024, 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 45% reached greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, well above the England average of 8%.

Scaled scores are equally strong: reading 111, mathematics 109, and grammar, punctuation and spelling 111. A large majority reached the expected standard in each area, with 92% in reading, 95% in mathematics, and 92% in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Rankings reinforce that picture. Ranked 332nd in England and 3rd in Nottingham for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits well above England average, placing it within the top 10% of schools in England. Parents comparing options locally can use the FindMySchool Local Hub page to view these outcomes alongside nearby schools using the Comparison Tool.

Teaching is strongly structured, with particular emphasis on the building blocks that drive primary attainment. Reading is positioned as a core priority from Reception, with phonics and book matching described as tightly aligned to what pupils have learned.

Mathematics is taught through a consistent approach across year groups, with frequent revisiting of prior concepts and clear explanations to secure understanding. Support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities is described as integrated into classroom learning, with adapted equipment and timely adult support used to keep pupils learning alongside peers.

For families, the implication is a school where routines and clarity matter. Pupils who respond well to step-by-step teaching and frequent retrieval of prior knowledge are likely to feel comfortable here.

As a Catholic primary, transition conversations often include both local comprehensive options and Catholic secondary pathways in Nottingham. Families commonly look at a mix of schools depending on faith criteria, travel patterns, and sibling links, so it is sensible to review Nottingham City’s secondary admissions information early, even while applying for Reception.

A practical step is to ask the school how it supports Year 6 transition, including liaison with receiving secondaries and any additional support for pupils moving to more distant schools. Where a family’s plan depends on a particular faith-based secondary route, understanding parish boundary and supplementary form requirements at secondary level can avoid last-minute surprises.

Reception applications are coordinated through Nottingham City Council, and the school is oversubscribed on the Reception entry route in the most recent data provided here, with 101 applications for 57 offers, which is about 1.77 applications per place.

Because this is a Catholic school, families applying on faith grounds are expected to complete the supplementary form and provide a copy of the child’s baptism certificate, so that the child can be considered as baptised Catholic within the oversubscription criteria.

For September 2026 entry, Nottingham City Council states the primary application closing date is 15 January 2026.

Parents should use the FindMySchool Map Search tool to understand how their home location relates to likely travel time and daily practicality, even where admissions are shaped primarily by faith criteria rather than distance.

Pastoral care is presented as relationship-led and preventative, with pupils encouraged to speak to trusted adults, and additional pastoral roles referenced in the inspection narrative (including access to a mentor and chaplain for worries). The school’s safeguarding culture is described as vigilant, with staff trained to identify concerns and leaders working with external agencies to support families where needed. Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

For many families, the key point is that wellbeing is framed through both Catholic formation and day-to-day protective practice. If your child benefits from consistent adult relationships and clear behavioural expectations, this approach often works well.

Enrichment is not presented as an optional extra, it is used to widen horizons. The 2021 inspection references pupils learning about the world beyond their local area, including cultural and civic visits (such as Parliament and major arts venues), and events designed to broaden aspiration, including careers-linked activities.

Catholic life also shapes enrichment. Published prayer materials reference specific opportunities such as a Catholic Life club, a Key Stage 2 Lectio Divina group, and seasonal activities such as Rosary club during October and May. These named activities matter because they signal a faith culture that is active, pupil-facing, and routine.

Wraparound provision is delivered through Nottinghamshire YMCA, with before and after school childcare presented as part of the school’s wider offer.

The school day runs from 8.55am to 3.15pm, with gates opening from 8.45am for supervised drop-off.

Wraparound childcare is available through the school’s YMCA arrangement; families should check current booking arrangements and availability directly via the school’s published wraparound information.

For travel, most families approach this as a local school in Aspley serving west Nottingham neighbourhoods. Day-to-day practicality matters, particularly if applying primarily through faith criteria rather than immediate proximity.

• Faith-based paperwork matters. If applying on Catholic grounds, the supplementary form and baptism evidence are central to how the application is categorised, and late documents can weaken priority.

• Oversubscription is real. With more applications than offers on the Reception entry route, families should apply on time and treat entry as competitive rather than automatic.

• Strong results can bring pressure. High attainment often comes with clear expectations and structured teaching. This suits many pupils, but families should consider whether their child thrives with a purposeful pace.

• Admissions are coordinated, not informal. Even though the school provides guidance, the route runs through the local authority process, with fixed deadlines and formal criteria.

St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School combines a clearly articulated Catholic ethos with academically strong Key Stage 2 outcomes and a culture of calm behaviour. It is best suited to families who actively want a faith-shaped primary experience, and whose child responds well to structured teaching and clear expectations. The limiting factor is admission, so families should treat the paperwork and deadlines as a core part of the process.