St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry, Torpoint
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Torpoint, part of St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in July 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 4th-highest of the 5 schools in Torpoint with published results, and 9,159th of 14,452 across England. It was 91% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Cornwall (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry in detail
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry in its own words
The school day runs from 8:45am to 3:15pm.
The school day (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry reached the expected standard in reading and 69% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 73% in Cornwall and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 92% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry
For September 2026 entry, 14 families put St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry as their first choice and 21 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.
Admissions history and your chances at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry are St Germans Primary School (3.1 miles, 86% reading, 86% maths); Trenode CofE VA Primary Academy (3.6 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); Looe Primary Academy (3.7 miles, Good, 81% reading, 81% maths); and Sir Robert Geffery's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School (5.5 miles, Good, 91% reading, 85% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry.
St Germans Primary SchoolTrenode CofE VA Primary AcademyLooe Primary AcademySir Robert Geffery's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
The trust
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is one of 14 schools run by St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust, an academy trust.
All 14 schools in St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry (as of April 2026): 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 they are kept well informed about progress (83%).
Who goes there
8.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 8 pupils (7.3%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 autism.
Staffing
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Germans Rail Station, about 3.4 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Church (opposite), 40 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 3 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Cornwall (14).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; 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
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
St Nicolas is a joyful and inspirational school. Staff ensure they bring learning to life. For example, it utilises local artists to demonstrate their creative processes. Pupils learn about life cycles by caring for the school's ducks in the 'Quack Shack'. As a result, pupils have a deep passion for their learning.
The school's success is built on an exceptional offer beyond the academic. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) participate fully in these. The school's beachfront location is virtually an extension of the classroom. Extra-curricular activities are carefully considered. They link carefully to both academic learning and in developing pupils' character. The school also extends pupils' experiences beyond its immediate locality. Residential visits to Cardiff and London help pupils understand the diversity of modern Britain.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The school's transition to new leadership and changes to the staff team has been a smooth one. The trust has provided additional internal and external support to help staff settle into their new roles. Governors continue to make regular checks on the school's work. The school's detailed curriculum has ensured that new staff know precisely what to teach and what pupils have learned previously. This has helped to maintain a high-quality education.
The curriculum is typically implemented well. Teachers explain new concepts clearly. They check what pupils can do. Pupils talk with enthusiasm about their recent learning, such as the Mayans. However, in some subjects, teachers' expectations of what pupils can do is not high enough. When this happens, pupils do not retain or apply their learning over the long term.
From Ofsted's July 2024 inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its July 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
8.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
12 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at April 2026 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 92% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 69% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 83% to 62% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
27.3
Avg class size
22.0
Infant (KS1)
30.5
KS2
4
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry
Term dates
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Cornwall's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is in Cornwall; for families living there:
- Cornwall's school travel policy: Home to School Travel Assistance Policy 2026/27
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 2
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
1 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 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 Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry
Will you get a place at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Cornwall, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Cornwall 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
91%
Near capacity
96 pupils
105 places
9 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Torpoint
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Torpoint
Across Cornwall council
Places available
6,475
Applications
4,732
Got 1st preference
95.9%
Got preferred school
99.6%
All primary applications across Cornwall council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good and may be improving; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
8
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
7.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
109
Total Pupils
39
Boys
70
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
7
Teachers
15.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,330
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,199
Per pupil
£648k
Total funding
£11k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.5%
Overall absence
8.6%
Persistent absence
81
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry
What are SATs results like at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
Of the pupils at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 77% reached the expected standard in reading and 69% did so in maths.
What is St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry's Ofsted rating?
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024.
What is the catchment area for St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
No fixed boundary. When St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is oversubscribed, Cornwall allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry was not full in 2025: it ran at 91% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
Classes at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry average 27.3 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry has around 109 pupils on roll. 8% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
4.5% of sessions were missed at St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry in 2024/25. 8.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
Apply through Cornwall's coordinated admissions process, naming St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry 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 Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 2 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 1 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 1 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 Cornwall is 3 (the median across 299 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry?
St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is at Downderry, Torpoint, Cornwall, PL11 3LF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)