St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy, Whitby
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Whitby, part of Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was 31% full in 2025.
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to North Yorkshire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy in detail
Getting a place at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 5 families put St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 11 named it as one of their preferences, for 5 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy are Egton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 57% reading, 29% maths); Glaisdale Primary School (2 miles, Outstanding); Goathland Primary School (2.8 miles, Good); and Lealholm Primary School (3 miles, Good).
Egton Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGlaisdale Primary SchoolGoathland Primary SchoolLealholm Primary School
The trust
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy is one of 38 schools run by Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).
Who goes there
13.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 2 pupils (13.3%) received SEN support and 2 (13.3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy had 3 teachers in 2026, one for every 5 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Egton Rail Station, about 70 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Egton Manor (opposite), 80 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often criminal damage and arson and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in North Yorkshire (9).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy issued 5 suspensions, 31.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: 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; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2020. Before that, as St Hedda's Roman Catholic Primary School (URN 121651), it was rated Outstanding in November 2013.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, caring school where children feel protected and valued. Teachers have high expectations for all pupils and expertly tailor learning to meet individual needs, including those with special educational needs. The school goes beyond the classroom to provide wonderful trips and activities - from visiting Parliament to camping on the school field - ensuring no child's opportunities are limited by the school's small size.
Key Strengths
- Exceptional pupil behaviour with pupils demonstrating kindness, respect and taking on leadership roles
- Highly ambitious curriculum implemented consistently well, enabling pupils to achieve highly across all subjects
- Very effective reading programme with strong phonics teaching and pupils developing a love of reading
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND who are quickly identified and provided with targeted help
- Rich range of meaningful experiences and wider opportunities that broaden pupils' cultural understanding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Digital leaders, sports leaders, Mini Vinnies (environmental action), book babbles, visits to Houses of Parliament, camping trips, trips to Newcastle theatre, Middlesbrough football stadium visits, litter picking at Whitby beach, prayer space and prayer garden
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School is a small rural Catholic academy where pupils thrive in a happy and welcoming environment with exceptional behaviour and strong academic achievement across all subjects.
At a Glance
13.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
5.5
Avg class size
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy is in North Yorkshire; for families living there:
Apply to North Yorkshire for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 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 Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
Will you get a place at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy? Get the admissions report
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What the report includes for St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from North Yorkshire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy for 2021 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in North Yorkshire 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
31%
Available places
16 pupils
52 places
36 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Whitby
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Whitby
Across North Yorkshire council
Places available
7,127
Applications
5,052
Got 1st preference
95.6%
Got preferred school
98.8%
All primary applications across North Yorkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
2
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
26.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
15
Total Pupils
7
Boys
8
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
5.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£33,870
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£13,517
Per pupil
£271k
Total funding
£6k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
7.3%
Overall absence
17.6%
Persistent absence
17
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy
What is St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2020. Before that, as St Hedda's Roman Catholic Primary School (URN 121651), it was rated Outstanding in November 2013.
What is the catchment area for St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, North Yorkshire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 31% of its 52 places.
How big are the classes at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Classes at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy average 5.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy has around 15 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
7.3% of sessions were missed at St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 17.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
Apply through North Yorkshire's coordinated admissions process, naming St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic 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 Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in North Yorkshire is 3 (the median across 382 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy?
St Hedda's Catholic Primary School, a Catholic Voluntary Academy is at Egton Bridge, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO21 1UX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)