Ofsted: Requires improvement trending_up Places Available emoji_events #77 in Dorset public Top 98% UK

St Catherine's Roman Catholic School

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

personMrs Paula Fearn

corporate_farePLYMOUTH CAST

location_onBridport, DT6 3TR

language Visit Website phone 1308423568

verified

Ofsted

Requires improvement

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

117

school

Expected Standard

30%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.0x

summarize

St Catherine's Roman Catholic School is a Academy converter primary school in Bridport, serving ages 5-11. Currently Requires Improvement according to Ofsted — the school is working to raise standards. Ranks in the top 98% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

St Catherine's Roman Catholic School is an academy converter in Bridport, Dorset, admitting pupils aged 5-11. It is part of PLYMOUTH CAST. The school has approximately 118 pupils on roll, of whom 22% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 30% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined. The school ranks #77 of 78 primaries in Dorset and #13,719 of 14,143 nationally.

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

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

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.4 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

30%

LA 54%

Reading55% LA 71%

Writing60% LA 67%

Maths40% LA 68%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

50%

LA 53%England 61%

Reading71% LA 72% · Eng 74%

Writing63% LA 66% · Eng 72%

Maths58% LA 65% · Eng 73%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

38%

LA 53%England 60%

Reading52% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing62% LA 67% · Eng 71%

Maths43% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

100

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.0

Read

LA 0.0

-3.7 to 1.8

-3.0

Write

LA -0.8

-5.7 to -0.4

-2.7

Maths

LA -1.3

-5.3 to -0.1

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 60%England 65%

Reading56% LA 73% · Eng 73%

Writing67% LA 75% · Eng 78%

Maths74% LA 74% · Eng 79%

Read SS

101

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

105

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.5

Read

LA -0.3

-3.9 to 0.8

2.6

Write

LA -0.5

0.4 to 4.7

-0.1

Maths

LA -1.1

-2.2 to 1.9

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

52%

LA 58%

Reading69% LA 73%

Writing79% LA 73%

Maths69% LA 69%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

-1.8

Read

LA -0.3

-4.1 to 0.5

-1.2

Write

LA -0.5

-3.4 to 1

-2.1

Maths

LA -1.2

-4.1 to -0.1

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

07 June 2023

Inspection Report

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11 May 2021

Inspection Report

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25 February 2021

Inspection Report

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05 November 2020

Inspection Report

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12 June 2019

Inspection Report

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19 January 2017

Inspection Report

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03 April 2014

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

4 Evaluations

2023-06-07

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-06-12

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2017-01-19

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2013-06-19

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

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 118 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	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg
2024/25 (Spring term)	118	0	0.0%	0.8%
2024/25 (Autumn term)	120	1	0.8%	0.9%
2023/24 (Summer term)	128	3	2.3%	0.8%
2023/24 (Spring term)	123	5	4.1%	0.7%
2023/24 (Autumn term)	118	5	4.2%	0.8%
2022/23 (Summer term)	119	0	0.0%	0.7%
2022/23 (Spring term)	117	3	2.6%	0.6%
2022/23 (Autumn term)	117	3	2.6%	0.6%
2021/22 (Summer term)	125	3	2.4%	0.5%
2021/22 (Spring term)	125	0	0.0%	0.5%
2021/22 (Autumn term)	128	7	5.5%	0.5%
2020/21 (Summer term)	136	6	4.4%	0.4%
2020/21 (Spring term)	139	2	1.4%	0.1%
2020/21 (Autumn term)	145	2	1.4%	0.4%
2019/20 (Summer term)	166	0	0.0%	0.0%
2019/20 (Spring term)	166	1	0.6%	0.4%
2019/20 (Autumn term)	171	0	0.0%	0.6%
2018/19 (Summer term)	185	1	0.5%	0.4%
2018/19 (Spring term)	185	0	0.0%	0.5%
2018/19 (Autumn term)	185	3	1.6%	0.5%
2017/18 (Summer term)	185	6	3.2%	0.5%
2017/18 (Spring term)	181	1	0.6%	0.4%
2017/18 (Autumn term)	180	0	0.0%	0.5%
2016/17 (Summer term)	192	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Spring term)	193	0	0.0%	0.4%
2016/17 (Autumn term)	195	0	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 11 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 5 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 4 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 2 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 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.

88.0%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.

8.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree64%

agree28%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

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

strongly agree40%

agree36%

disagree12%

strongly disagree12%

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

strongly agree44%

agree16%

disagree16%

strongly disagree4%

not applicable20%

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 agree28%

agree44%

disagree20%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree36%

agree56%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree44%

agree36%

disagree12%

strongly disagree8%

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

strongly agree44%

agree36%

disagree8%

strongly disagree4%

don't know8%

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

strongly agree64%

agree24%

disagree12%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree56%

agree20%

disagree4%

strongly disagree4%

don't know16%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes72%

no28%

Top Primary Schools in Dorset

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

Bovington Academy

Good

location_on Wareham, BH20 6LE

emoji_events #1 in LA

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Outstanding

location_on Weymouth, DT3 5DQ

emoji_events #2 in LA

Conifers Primary School

Good

location_on Weymouth, DT4 0QF

emoji_events #3 in LA

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Good

location_on Swanage, BH19 1QE

emoji_events #4 in LA

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

Good

location_on Sherborne, DT9 4SW

emoji_events #5 in LA

St Ives Primary & Nursery School

Outstanding

location_on Ringwood, BH24 2LE

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Dorset 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 Dorset

Bovington Academy

St Nicholas and St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Conifers Primary School

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Swanage

Trent Young's CofE Primary School

St Ives Primary & Nursery School