St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School, Bristol

Ofsted's report card from its 17 March 2026 inspection grades St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Attendance is a high priority for the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "The early years is a happy, safe and exciting place to learn."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Inclusion is at the heart of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's provision for pupils' personal development is successful."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement in national assessments over time has been below the national averages."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching is inconsistent."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders know that further action is needed to continue to improve the school and to ensure that pupils learn well across the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use assessment effectively to check pupils' learning and adapt teaching so that pupils build the depth of knowledge they need across the wider curriculum"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils across the school achieve better outcomes in reading, writing and mathematics so they are well prepared for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders and governors should monitor the curriculum to ensure teaching and pupils' achievement improve with sufficient speed and rigour".

From the headteacher's welcome: ""We are an Inclusive Catholic community, who welcome, love, care for and serve our pupils and families."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, rugby, dance, choir and gardening.

The school runs a breakfast club.

In 2025, 48% of Year 6 pupils at St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 72% in Bristol, City of; and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (60% in reading, 44% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 29 named it as one of their preferences, for 14 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School are Easton CofE Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 58% reading, 58% maths); Cabot Primary School (0.3 miles, 70% reading, 70% maths); Hannah More Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 36% reading, 57% maths); and Evergreen Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 89% reading, 89% maths).

St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School is one of 7 schools run by The Cardinal Newman Catholic Educational Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

68.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 57.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (54%), Mixed (16%) and Asian (7%).

In 2026, 56 pupils (44.8%) received SEN support and 6 (4.8%) 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.

St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Lawrence Hill Rail Station, about 870 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Thrissell Street (ne-bound), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 1559 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 Bristol, City of (417), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School issued 5 suspensions, 3.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School are The City Academy Bristol (0.7 miles), E-ACT Montpelier High School (0.8 miles), North Bristol Post 16 Centre (1 mile) and St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School (1.1 miles).