St Francis Xavier's Primary School, Hereford

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades St Francis Xavier's 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.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders have established robust systems to monitor and improve attendance."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children flourish in a language-rich environment."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have established a highly inclusive ethos."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils secure important knowledge in the core subjects of reading, writing and mathematics very well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have established an effective curriculum."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders know the school well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have thought carefully about the personal development programme."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to embed teaching approaches so that there is consistently highly effective teaching across the school"; "Leaders and staff should ensure that pupils develop a detailed knowledge and understanding across the wider curriculum, including the personal, social, health and economic curriculum".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to our wonderful school: St Francis Xavier's RC Primary. As a Catholic School, we are passionate about supporting parents and carers with developing their child's unique character and utilising and encouraging their God-given gifts. We encourage our children to S hare God's Love with others, F ollow their dreams and e X cel in citizenship."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, cricket, athletics, dance, coding and Lego.

The school runs after-school care until 5:30pm.

Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at 9.30am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at St Francis Xavier's Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 94% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Herefordshire, County of; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (97% in reading, 90% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 40 families put St Francis Xavier's Primary School as their first choice and 77 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Francis Xavier's Primary School are Broadlands Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 46% reading, 58% maths); Holmer CofE Academy (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 85% reading, 81% maths); St Thomas Cantilupe CofE Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 82% reading, 89% maths); and Lord Scudamore Primary Academy (1.1 miles, Good, 72% reading, 60% maths).

St Francis Xavier's Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

7.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 52.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (44%) and Asian (34%).

In 2026, 26 pupils (12.1%) received SEN support and 3 (1.4%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.

The nearest railway station is Hereford Rail Station, about 890 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Francis Xavier School (adjacent), 40 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Francis Xavier's 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 268 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 Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.

St Francis Xavier's Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Francis Xavier's Primary School are Aylestone School (0.7 miles), The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School (1.3 miles) and Whitecross Hereford (1.6 miles).