St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 3 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Myers Lane, Bradford, BD2 4ESOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is a primary school in Bradford for ages 3 to 11. It is one of the 227 schools in Bradford. It ranks 46th of 106 primary schools in Bradford. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2013.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 16 January 2013, report published 7 February 2013

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 3 December 2024

At St Francis Catholic Primary School, staff and pupils cherish learning. This is a school where every pupil matters. Children from early years to Year 6 explore different subjects. They ask questions and grow in confidence. The classrooms buzz with energy. Teachers make lessons fun and challenging. Staff set high expectations. Pupils meet them in their learning and interactions. At St Francis, learning is about not remembering facts. It is about understanding the process of deep thinking. Pupils feel a strong sense of safety here. They have many ways to share their thoughts with trusted staff who are ready to listen. The school has clubs and leadership opportunities. Pupils can develop their talents. For example, they can be digital leaders or join the school council. Behaviour is calm and respectful. Pupils and staff help each other make good choices. Bullying is rare, and when it occurs, staff deal with it. The school goes beyond teaching subjects. It helps pupils learn values such as kindness and respect. It shows them how to be good citizens. Every child gets support to help them shine. The school is a happy, supportive place where pupils can dream big and work towards those dreams.

What the school should improve

  • In a small number of subjects, the school's approach to checking what pupils know is not fully embedded, such as PSHE. As a result, some new content may be introduced without pupils having a secure prior understanding of the content taught. This limits pupils' ability to connect learning over time. The school should ensure that checking for pupils' understanding is consistently aligned with the ideas and concepts they have identified in their curriculum.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths60%

60%, 2 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths7%

7%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score105

105, the same as the England average.

Pupil numbers and mix

234 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals11.5%

11.5%, 15 percentage points below the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language8.5%

8.5%, 13.1 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support12.4%

12.4%, 2.4 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan6%

6%, the same as the England average.

Schools near St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Grove House Academy0.2 milesOfsted: Good67% met the expected standard
Swain House Primary School0.3 milesOfsted: Good58% met the expected standard
Wellington Primary School0.4 milesOfsted: Good61% met the expected standard
Poplars Farm Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: Good54% met the expected standard
Peel Park Primary School and Nursery0.7 milesOfsted judgements: Good50% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
BLESSED CHRISTOPHER WHARTON CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
3 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Catholic
Nursery classes
Yes
Headteacher
Mrs Andrea Haines
Address
Myers Lane, Bradford, BD2 4ES
Local authority
Bradford
URN
147922

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.