St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, Bradford
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Bradford, part of Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust. It has a Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 37th-highest of the 110 schools in Bradford with published results, and 7,353rd of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Bradford (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy in detail
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Bradford and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 87% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 35 families put St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 99 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 6 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy are Grove House Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 78% maths); Swain House Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 64% reading, 69% maths); Wellington Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 74% reading, 72% maths); and Poplars Farm Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 67% reading, 63% maths).
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Grove House AcademySwain House Primary SchoolWellington Primary SchoolPoplars Farm Primary School
The trust
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is one of 19 schools run by Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
All 19 schools in Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust
What parents say
43 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 81% would recommend the school, 95% say their child is happy there and 53% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (95%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (53%).
Who goes there
11.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (62%), Mixed (14%) and Asian (11%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Frizinghall Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
24 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bolton Junction, 180 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy issued 15 suspensions, 6.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy are Hanson Academy (0.2 miles), Feversham Girls' Secondary Academy (0.8 miles) and Carlton Bolling (1 mile).
Hanson AcademyFeversham Girls' Secondary AcademyCarlton Bolling
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2020. Before that, as St Francis Catholic Primary School (URN 107332), it was rated Good in January 2013.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's December 2024 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Francis creates a welcoming environment where every child feels safe and valued. Teachers make learning engaging and challenging, encouraging deep thinking rather than just memorizing facts. The school goes beyond academics to develop pupils' character, teaching them kindness, respect, and how to be responsible citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong curriculum with teachers who have deep subject knowledge and check pupil understanding effectively
- Excellent support for pupils with special educational needs through personalized learning plans and adapted teaching
- Systematic approach to teaching reading with quick identification and support for pupils who need to catch up
- Calm, focused learning environment with clear behavior expectations that pupils understand and respect
- Strong focus on character development, values, and preparing pupils to be good citizens
Areas for Improvement
- In a small number of subjects like PSHE, checks on pupil understanding are not as robust, which can limit pupils' ability to connect learning over time
- The school should ensure that assessing what pupils know is consistently aligned across all subjects
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear policies and staff who listen and respond to pupil concerns.
Extracurricular Activities
School clubs, sports ambassadors, art ambassadors, digital leaders, school council, environmental projects
St Francis Catholic Primary School is a happy, supportive place where staff and pupils cherish learning and every child matters. The school has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection with a strong curriculum, excellent support for pupils with additional needs, and a calm, respectful learning environment.
At a Glance
11.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
43 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 87% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 87% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 80% to 60% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.4
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is in Bradford; for families living there:
- Bradford's school travel policy: Home to school travel and transport policy for children of compulsory school age
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 37
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 11
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 24 slight.
11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Bradford is 30 (the median across 233 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Will you get a place at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy.
- Bradford publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy for 2021 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Bradford got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
209 pupils
210 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Bradford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Bradford
Across Bradford council
Places available
7,475
Applications
6,301
Got 1st preference
92.3%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Bradford council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
29
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
18.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
234
Total Pupils
135
Boys
99
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
19.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,912
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,335
Per pupil
£1204k
Total funding
£33k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.4%
Overall absence
4.3%
Persistent absence
185
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Questions parents ask about St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in May 2020. Before that, as St Francis Catholic Primary School (URN 107332), it was rated Good in January 2013.
What is the catchment area for St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, Bradford allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
Classes at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy average 24.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy has around 234 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
3.4% of sessions were missed at St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 4.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Bradford's coordinated admissions process, naming St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 37 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 24 slight. 11 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 7 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Bradford is 30 (the median across 233 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?
St Francis Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is at Myers Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD2 4ES.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)