St Paul's CofE Primary School, Hereford
St Paul's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Hereford, part of Orchard Multi-Academy Trust. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 25th-highest of the 38 schools in Hereford with published results, and 9,396th of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Herefordshire, County of (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Paul's CofE Primary School in detail
St Paul's CofE Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "We are an academy of 425 happy and talented children who are cared for and taught by dedicated and enthusiastic staff. Inspired by God's love for us, all children are encouraged to flourish in all areas of school life, to achieve everything they aim for."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 63% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 77% in Herefordshire, County of; and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 74% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 57 families put St Paul's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 118 named it as one of their preferences, for 60 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 1 family who put it first was not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Paul's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Paul's CofE Primary School are Hampton Dene Primary School (0.1 miles, Good, 77% reading, 86% maths); Broadlands Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 46% reading, 58% maths); St James' Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles, 83% reading, 86% maths); and St Thomas Cantilupe CofE Academy (1.3 miles, Good, 82% reading, 89% maths).
St Paul's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Hampton Dene Primary SchoolBroadlands Primary SchoolSt James' Church of England Primary SchoolSt Thomas Cantilupe CofE Academy
The trust
St Paul's CofE Primary School is one of 6 schools run by Orchard Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.
What parents say
69 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Paul's CofE Primary School (as of September 2025): 83% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 54% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (54%).
Who goes there
6.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 53 pupils (13.4%) received SEN support and 11 (2.8%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hereford Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Deaconsfield (opposite), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Paul's CofE Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 76 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Herefordshire, County of (4), as is usual near a town centre.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Paul's CofE Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Paul's CofE Primary School are The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School (0.1 miles), Aylestone School (0.7 miles) and St Mary's RC High School (1.2 miles).
The Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat SchoolAylestone SchoolSt Mary's RC High School
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; 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 · 1 year agoThis judgement is from March 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Paul's is an exceptionally welcoming school where children love learning and feel happy and valued. The school goes far beyond the basics to provide rich experiences that build character and independence - one pupil said 'I've done things at this school that I never thought I'd be able to do!' Teachers support all learners brilliantly, with particularly strong help for pupils with additional needs.
Key Strengths
- Personal development is exceptional with an innovative volunteer programme that teaches responsibility and independence
- Reading is a high priority with effective systems to develop phonics, fluency and comprehension
- Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain, learning about British values through meaningful activities like democracy week
- Support for pupils with SEND is excellent, with learning carefully adapted so all pupils can access the same curriculum
- Broad and ambitious curriculum is well-ordered so pupils build knowledge securely over time
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistencies in how the phonics programme is implemented means some pupils don't develop phonics knowledge as quickly as they could
- Some pupils are not always supported to make connections between their current and previous learning, which limits deeper knowledge of the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective.
Extracurricular Activities
Volunteer programme, worship council, school council leadership roles, democracy week activities
St Paul's CofE Primary School is a welcoming school where pupils enjoy learning and attend well. The school is ambitious for its pupils and has created a nurturing environment with high expectations.
At a Glance
6.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
69 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 improved from 74% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 58% to 63% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.2
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
29.3
KS2
10
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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Paul's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Paul's CofE Primary School is in Herefordshire, County of; for families living there:
- Herefordshire, County of's school travel policy: School transport policy
- How to apply: Apply for school transport
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle.
6 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Paul's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Paul's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Paul's CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Herefordshire, County of, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Paul's CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Herefordshire, County of 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
417 pupils
420 places
3 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Hereford
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Hereford
Across Herefordshire, County of council
Places available
2,131
Applications
1,553
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All primary applications across Herefordshire, County of council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
53
SEN Support
11
EHC Plans
16.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
396
Total Pupils
199
Boys
197
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
20
Teachers
19.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£47,493
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£2212k
Total funding
£45k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
6.3%
Persistent absence
367
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 Paul's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Paul's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Paul's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 63% did so in maths.
What is St Paul's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Paul's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Paul's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Paul's CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Herefordshire, County of allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Classes at St Paul's CofE Primary School average 29.2 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 Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School has around 396 pupils on roll. 6% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Paul's CofE Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at St Paul's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 6.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Paul's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Herefordshire, County of's coordinated admissions process, naming St Paul's CofE Primary School 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 Paul's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 on a bicycle. 6 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 Herefordshire, County of is 2 (the median across 115 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Paul's CofE Primary School?
St Paul's CofE Primary School is at Hampton Dene Road, Tupsley, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 1UX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)