Ofsted: Requires improvement

St Nicholas School

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMiss Katie Goodwin

location_onPurley, CR8 4DS

language Visit Website phone 2086604861

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

245

school

Expected Standard

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Age Range

4-11

summarize

St Nicholas School is a Community special school school in Purley, serving ages 4-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards.

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School Summary

St Nicholas School is a community special school in Purley, Croydon, admitting pupils aged 4-11. The school has approximately 274 pupils on roll, of whom 44% are eligible for free school meals.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Requires improvement. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Requires improvement, behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement, personal development Requires improvement, and leadership and management Requires improvement.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 9.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.0 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 67%

Reading0% LA 77%

Writing0% LA 75%

Maths0% LA 77%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 63%England 61%

Reading0% LA 74% · Eng 74%

Writing0% LA 71% · Eng 72%

Maths0% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 61%England 60%

Reading0% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths3% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Read SS

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.9

Read

LA 0.1

-8.3 to -3.6

-4.8

Write

LA -0.1

-7.0 to -2.5

-5.1

Maths

LA 0.6

-7.3 to -2.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 65%England 65%

Reading0% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing0% LA 77% · Eng 78%

Maths0% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.9

Read

LA 0.8

-4.9 to 1.1

-0.1

Write

LA 0.6

-2.9 to 2.7

-2.7

Maths

LA 0.8

-5.4 to -0.1

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

LA 66%

Reading3% LA 75%

Writing0% LA 78%

Maths0% LA 76%

Read SS

Maths SS

GPS SS

106

Progress (0 = national avg)

-5.8

Read

LA 0.6

-7.9 to -3.7

-6.9

Write

LA 0.6

-8.9 to -4.9

-6.7

Maths

LA 1.0

-8.6 to -4.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 May 2024

Inspection Report

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08 February 2023

Inspection Report

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06 June 2017

Inspection Report

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21 May 2014

Inspection Report

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22 January 2009

Inspection Report

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08 November 2005

Inspection Report

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03 July 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2024-05-08

S5 Inspection EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Requires improvement

Development

Requires improvement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-06-06

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2014-05-21

S5 Inspection Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2009-01-22

None EIF

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.0%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.0%(0 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 274 pupils. During this period, there were 0 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.0%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	274	0	0.0%	7.3%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	277	0	0.0%	7.8%
2023/24 (Summer term)	271	0	0.0%	7.4%
2023/24 (Spring term)	270	0	0.0%	7.1%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	268	0	0.0%	8.2%
2022/23 (Summer term)	244	0	0.0%	6.6%
2022/23 (Spring term)	245	0	0.0%	6.4%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	244	0	0.0%	5.9%
2021/22 (Summer term)	223	0	0.0%	4.7%
2021/22 (Spring term)	226	0	0.0%	4.9%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	223	0	0.0%	4.4%
2020/21 (Summer term)	202	1	0.5%	3.6%
2020/21 (Spring term)	202	0	0.0%	1.0%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	204	1	0.5%	3.9%
2019/20 (Summer term)	174	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	174	0	0.0%	3.2%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	174	2	1.1%	4.2%
2018/19 (Summer term)	158	0	0.0%	3.1%
2018/19 (Spring term)	154	1	0.6%	3.8%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	152	3	2.0%	3.8%
2017/18 (Summer term)	139	0	0.0%	3.4%
2017/18 (Spring term)	139	0	0.0%	3.0%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	133	0	0.0%	3.7%
2016/17 (Summer term)	132	0	0.0%	3.0%
2016/17 (Spring term)	131	0	0.0%	3.3%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	129	0	0.0%	3.1%

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 101 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 81 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 71 pupils

Severe Learning Difficulty 13 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 2 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 1 pupils

Multi-Sensory Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

80.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

68.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

26.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree25%

agree38%

disagree15%

strongly disagree10%

don't know13%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree30%

agree55%

disagree8%

strongly disagree5%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree25%

agree33%

disagree13%

strongly disagree15%

don't know5%

not applicable10%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes100%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree45%

agree30%

disagree10%

strongly disagree15%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree15%

agree28%

disagree30%

strongly disagree15%

don't know13%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree43%

disagree8%

strongly disagree13%

don't know5%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree30%

agree45%

disagree10%

strongly disagree15%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree30%

agree45%

disagree13%

strongly disagree8%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree15%

agree25%

disagree28%

strongly disagree25%

don't know8%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree33%

agree38%

disagree5%

strongly disagree18%

don't know8%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes83%

no18%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

Staffing

Teacher Turnover