Ofsted: Good trending_up High Demand emoji_events #142 in Kent public Top 12% UK

St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury

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

personMiss Lisa D'Agostini

location_onCanterbury, CT1 1NE

language Visit Website phone 1227462539

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

209

school

Expected Standard

80%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.7x

summarize

St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury is a Voluntary aided school primary school in Canterbury, serving ages 5-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Highly competitive: 1.7× more applications than places — plan well ahead. Ranks in the top 12% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Thomas' Catholic Primary School, Canterbury is a voluntary aided school in Canterbury, Kent, admitting pupils aged 5-11. The school has approximately 210 pupils on roll, of whom 18% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 17% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #142 of 424 primaries in Kent and #4,749 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.7× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 24.4:1. 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

80%

LA 61%

Reading87% LA 74%

Writing80% LA 72%

Maths93% LA 70%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

112

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

77%

LA 60%England 61%

Reading80% LA 75% · Eng 74%

Writing87% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths87% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

108

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

67%

LA 58%England 60%

Reading70% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing83% LA 72% · Eng 71%

Maths90% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.3

Read

LA -0.4

-3.9 to 1.2

-1.2

Write

LA -0.2

-3.7 to 1.3

3.5

Maths

LA -1.2

1.1 to 5.9

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

90%

LA 67%England 65%

Reading90% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Writing97% LA 81% · Eng 78%

Maths97% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

108

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.3

Read

LA 0.0

-1.9 to 2.6

0.0

Write

LA 0.1

-2.1 to 2.1

1.1

Maths

LA -0.6

-0.9 to 3.0

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

86%

LA 65%

Reading97% LA 76%

Writing93% LA 80%

Maths93% LA 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

106

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.4

Read

LA 0.0

0.1 to 4.7

-0.5

Write

LA 0.4

-2.7 to 1.7

-0.3

Maths

LA -0.5

-2.4 to 1.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 April 2023

Inspection Report

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14 September 2021

Inspection Report

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13 January 2016

Inspection Report

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28 March 2014

Inspection Report

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27 June 2011

Inspection Report

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17 June 2008

Inspection Report

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19 January 2004

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-04-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2016-01-13

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2011-06-27

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

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: 0.8% for this term (primary).

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: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 210 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 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	210	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	210	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	210	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	210	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	210	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	208	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	209	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	208	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	210	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	209	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	208	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	205	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	207	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	209	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	209	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	209	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	210	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	209	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	209	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	208	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	208	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	209	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	207	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	208	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	208	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	207	0.0%	0.5%

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.

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 5 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 1 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

Profound & Multiple Learning 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.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

93.0%Positive

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

23.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree68%

agree20%

disagree7%

don't know5%

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

strongly agree64%

agree34%

disagree2%

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

strongly agree25%

agree32%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

not applicable27%

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.

strongly agree43%

agree41%

disagree7%

don't know9%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree48%

agree45%

disagree7%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree48%

agree41%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree43%

agree50%

disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree36%

agree48%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree30%

agree48%

disagree11%

strongly disagree5%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes89%

no11%

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Westgate Primary School

Good

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emoji_events #1 in LA

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Outstanding

location_on Ebbsfleet, DA10 1AD

emoji_events #2 in LA

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Deal, CT14 8DD

emoji_events #3 in LA

Thornden Wood Primary School

Good

location_on Herne Bay, CT6 7RS

emoji_events #4 in LA

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

Good

location_on Tonbridge, TN12 6JE

emoji_events #5 in LA

The Discovery School

Outstanding

location_on West Malling, ME19 4GJ

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Kent arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Roman Catholic)

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

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.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Kent

Westgate Primary School

Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard

Kingsdown and Ringwould Church of England Primary School

Thornden Wood Primary School

Leigh Academy Paddock Wood

The Discovery School