Academy sponsor led · Devon

St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

3–11Ages
269Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Roman CatholicReligious character
139394URN

Ringswell Avenue, Exeter, EX1 3EG · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Sep 2024 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.2per place

0.3 below Devon median (1.5)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Devon

36 applications for 31 places · 147th of 163 in Devon

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

32%met the expected standard

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 24 September 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education		Requires improvement
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management		Requires improvement
Early years provision		Requires improvement

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.2applications per place, Reception

0.3 below Devon median (1.5) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

36 applications · 31 places offered · 19 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 1.2; Devon median median 1.5
2025 1.2; Devon median median 1.5
2024 1.3; Devon median median 1.6
2023 1.7; Devon median median 1.6
2022 1.7; Devon median median 1.6
2021 2.1; Devon median median 1.6
2020 1.7; Devon median median 1.6
2019 1.6; Devon median median 1.6
2018 1.6; Devon median median 1.6
2017 2.7; Devon median median 1.6
2016 1.9; Devon median median 1.6
2015 1.8; Devon median median 1.7
2014 1.6; Devon median median 1.6

This school
Devon median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	31	36	1.2	19	0.61
Sep 2025	45	55	1.2	31	0.69
Sep 2024	41	53	1.3	29	0.71
Sep 2023	35	60	1.7	27	0.77
Sep 2022	36	62	1.7	33	0.92
Sep 2021	30	64	2.1	25	0.83
Sep 2020	39	67	1.7	35	0.90
Sep 2019	33	53	1.6	29	0.88
Sep 2018	45	72	1.6	44	0.98
Sep 2017	22	59	2.7	20	0.91
Sep 2016	43	80	1.9	34	0.79
Sep 2015	41	72	1.8	46	1.12
Sep 2014	39	63	1.6	39	1.00

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 66% · Writing 45% · Maths 64% → all three 32% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard32%247th of 266 in Devon

Devon 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard66%

Devon 79% England 78%

Higher standard34%

Devon 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard45%

Devon 74% England 75%

Greater depth0%

Devon 9% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard64%

Devon 75% England 77%

Higher standard11%

Devon 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 101 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Devon median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	32%	0%	104	101
2023/24	46%	5%	101	100
2022/23	58%	6%	104	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

St Nicholas Catholic Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2024

1.2applications per place 32%met the SATs standard
Whipton Barton Junior School
0.9 km · Devon

Good2023

73%met the SATs standard
Whipton Barton Infants and Nursery School
0.9 km · Devon

Remains Good2023

1.3applications per place
Woodwater Academy
1.0 km · Devon

Good2024

1.5applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Clyst Heath Nursery and Community Primary School
1.3 km · Devon

Remains Good · concerns noted2023

1.7applications per place 56%met the SATs standard
Monkerton Community Primary School
1.4 km · Devon

Good2023

2.8applications per place
St Michael's Church of England Primary Academy
1.4 km · Devon

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.3applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Willowbrook School
1.5 km · Devon

Requires improvement2022

1.4applications per place 44%met the SATs standard
Ladysmith Infant & Nursery School
1.8 km · Devon

Requires improvement2023

2.0applications per place

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 139394 · 878/2005
Trust: Plymouth Cast
Religious character: Roman Catholic
Capacity: 327 pupils · 269 on roll
Free school meals: 21.6% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 June 2013
Replaced: St Nicholas Catholic Primary School (URN 113444)
Address: Ringswell Avenue, Exeter, EX1 3EG
Local authority: Devon · Exeter

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources