St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School, Kidderminster

Ofsted's report card from its 30 June 2026 inspection grades St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve well across all areas of the curriculum and in all year groups."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have constructed an ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is at the heart of the school's work."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that attendance is viewed as everyone's responsibility."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children get off to a great start in Reception Year."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations of themselves and the whole team of staff."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed a programme for personal development and wellbeing that prepares pupils well for their future lives in modern Britain."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further develop adult interactions with children in the early years to maximise opportunities to deepen learning in all activities"; "Leaders should continue to strengthen opportunities for pupils to develop their understanding of cultural diversity, so that they are even better prepared for life in modern Britain"; "Leaders should continue with their work around attendance so that the attendance of pupils who face barriers to attending well improves, to be consistently high".

From the headteacher's welcome: "St. Catherine's is truly a special school, and it is a great privilege to serve as headteacher. We nurture every aspect of child development, promoting high academic standards while fostering social and emotional skills-truly embodying our commitment as a 'Heartsmart' school."

Coming up: an open day on Tuesday 20 April 2027 and an open day on Tuesday 27 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 78% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in Worcestershire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 80% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 78 families put St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School as their first choice and 120 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 18 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School are Franche Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 75% maths); St John's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 77% maths); St Mary's CofE (VA) Primary School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, 70% reading, 52% maths); and Wolverley Sebright Primary Academy (0.9 miles, Good, 80% reading, 70% maths).

St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

10.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 47 pupils (11.3%) received SEN support and 11 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Kidderminster Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Marlpool Place (adjacent), 160 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 279 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Worcestershire (78), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Catherine's CofE (VC) Primary School are Baxter College (0.7 miles), Holy Trinity School (1.2 miles), Wolverley CofE Secondary School (1.4 miles) and King Charles I School (1.6 miles).