St Francis Catholic Primary School
Station Road, Nailsea, BS48 4PDOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Francis Catholic Primary School is a primary school in Nailsea for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 84 schools in North Somerset. It ranks 19th of 56 primary schools in North Somerset. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 September 2024, report published 16 October 2024
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 24 September 2024
St Francis is a school reborn. Following the difficulties of the predecessor school and the move into the trust, the school initially stabilised. It now thrives. The school has high ambition for its pupils. By the end of key stage 2, they achieve well. Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of education. Pupils are wonderful ambassadors for their school. They are polite, courteous and eloquent. Pupils speak proudly about sporting success against larger schools. In class, they behave well. St Francis has a nurturing ethos. Older pupils support their younger peers at lunchtimes. Adults know pupils well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). They help to adapt their learning as necessary. The school's work extends beyond the academic. It places a strong emphasis on pupils knowing the importance of contributing to society. Pupils raise money for a variety of charities. The school choir performs in homes for the elderly. This supports pupils to become empathetic and compassionate citizens. Relationships with parents and carers are highly positive. All parents who completed the Ofsted Parent View survey would recommend the school. They value the visibility of the leadership team and the well-rounded education pupils receive.
What the school should improve
- On some occasions, staff do not consider well enough what pupils can already do and provide them with tasks that sufficiently deepen their thinking. As a result, some pupils do not extend their knowledge as much as they are capable of. The trust should ensure that staff are supported to plan work that better considers what pupils can already do and deepens pupils' knowledge fully.
- Historically, the implementation of the phonics curriculum has not been taught with the rigour and high expectations of more recent times. As a result, a few pupils have gaps in their phonics knowledge. The school should ensure that these gaps in knowledge continue to be addressed and ensure pupils catch up quickly.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
142 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near St Francis Catholic Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley Primary School | 0.3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good | 81% met the expected standard |
| Hannah More Infant School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Grove Junior School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 65% met the expected standard |
| West Leigh Infant School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Kingshill Church School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | 32% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- THE CARDINAL NEWMAN CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL TRUST
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Tim Purser
- Phone
- 01275855373
- Address
- Station Road, Nailsea, BS48 4PD
- Local authority
- North Somerset
- URN
- 148962
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.