Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #194 in Cornwall public Top 93% UK

St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry

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

personMrs Christine Gardiner

corporate_fareST BARNABAS CHURCH OF ENGLAND MULTI ACADEMY TRUST

location_onTorpoint, PL11 3LF

language Visit Website phone 1503250565

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

109

school

Expected Standard

38%

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Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is a Academy sponsor led primary school in Torpoint, serving ages 3-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 93% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry is an academy sponsor led in Torpoint, Cornwall, admitting pupils aged 3-11. It is part of ST BARNABAS CHURCH OF ENGLAND MULTI ACADEMY TRUST. The school has approximately 109 pupils on roll, of whom 7% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 38% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 8% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #194 of 209 primaries in Cornwall and #13,541 of 14,143 nationally.

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

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 1.0× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.3:1. 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

38%

LA 59%

Reading77% LA 75%

Writing62% LA 73%

Maths69% LA 71%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

100

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

58%

LA 57%England 61%

Reading92% LA 73% · Eng 74%

Writing83% LA 70% · Eng 72%

Maths67% LA 70% · Eng 73%

Read SS

107

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

45%

LA 57%England 60%

Reading100% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing73% LA 70% · Eng 71%

Maths64% LA 69% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

103

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

4.3

Read

LA 0.4

0.4 to 8.2

2.0

Write

LA 0.1

-1.7 to 5.8

-1.5

Maths

LA -0.7

-5.2 to 2.2

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

71%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading86% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing86% LA 76% · Eng 78%

Maths93% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

108

Maths SS

105

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.0

Read

LA -0.1

-0.2 to 6.2

1.3

Write

LA -0.2

-1.7 to 4.3

0.1

Maths

LA -1.2

-2.7 to 2.9

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

75%

LA 59%

Reading100% LA 74%

Writing75% LA 75%

Maths100% LA 71%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

107

Progress (0 = national avg)

2.4

Read

LA -0.3

-0.5 to 5.3

-1.5

Write

LA -0.3

-4.3 to 1.3

2.8

Maths

LA -1.0

0.1 to 5.5

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

09 July 2024

Inspection Report

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16 May 2023

Inspection Report

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29 November 2016

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-07-09

S5 Inspection EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2016-11-29

Academy First Section 5 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2012-10-04

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

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 109 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)	109	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	102	0.0%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	105	0.0%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	105	0.0%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	108	0.0%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	108	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	109	0.0%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	105	0.0%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	109	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	107	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	108	0.0%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	117	0.0%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	113	0.0%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	104	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	95	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	95	0.0%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	93	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	100	0.0%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	94	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	87	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	103	0.0%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	100	0.0%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	97	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	101	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	98	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	94	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.

Specific Learning Difficulty 3 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 2 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 1 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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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.

99.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

100.0%Positive

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

13.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree60%

agree33%

disagree3%

don't know3%

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

strongly agree57%

agree37%

disagree5%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree41%

agree24%

disagree3%

don't know2%

not applicable30%

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

yes22%

no78%

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

strongly agree50%

agree50%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree49%

agree40%

disagree3%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree33%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree57%

agree38%

disagree3%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree65%

agree33%

don't know2%

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

strongly agree70%

agree27%

disagree3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree63%

agree30%

disagree5%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

Top Primary Schools in Cornwall

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Good

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St Columb Major Academy

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Alverton Primary School

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Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Faith Priority (Church of England)

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.

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 Cornwall

St John's Catholic Primary School, Camborne

Newlyn School

Lanner Primary School

St Columb Major Academy

Alverton Primary School

Beacon Academy