St Nicholas Church of England Primary

St Nicholas Church of England Primary is a small Church of England primary school in the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust. Inspectors found it exceptional, with every key judgement – quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision – judged outstanding. The school was previously judged good; this was a graded section 5 inspection and, under current arrangements, no overall effectiveness grade was issued. Pupils flourish from Reception onwards. The curriculum is broad, ambitious and often exceeds national expectations, and pupils achieve highly, including in national tests for English and mathematics. Reading is a key priority, phonics is taught consistently well, and pupils who struggle, including some with SEND, are identified quickly and supported to catch up. The small number of pupils with SEND have their needs identified promptly and their curriculum skilfully adapted, so they achieve very well. Behaviour is exemplary, attendance is high, and pupils conduct themselves with maturity. Personal development is a strength, with a wide range of clubs, roles and enriching experiences that prepare pupils well for life in modern Britain. Staff, parents and pupils are highly positive about the school, and the trust and governors play a vital role in its success. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. No areas of concern or underperformance were identified in the report.

Strengths

• Broad and ambitious curriculum that often exceeds national expectations
• Pupils achieve highly across subjects, including in national English and mathematics tests
• Reading is a key priority, with strong phonics teaching and a culture of reading
• Pupils who struggle with reading, including some with SEND, are identified quickly and supported to catch up
• Pupils with SEND have their needs identified promptly and their curriculum skilfully adapted
• Behaviour is exemplary, with pupils demonstrating maturity and focus
• Attendance is high, with clear expectations and effective follow-up and support
• A wide range of clubs and opportunities develops pupils’ talents and interests
• Pupils are very well prepared for life in modern Britain, including equality, human rights and social justice
• Staff, parents and pupils are incredibly positive about the school
• The trust and governors play a vital role in the school’s success
• Safeguarding arrangements are effective

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary attended 96.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Nicholas Church of England Primary had 23.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 10.7% of pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 0.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 St Nicholas Church of England Primary received £6,949 and spent £7,341 for each of its 215 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £176,000 (£820 per pupil).

Across all 12 schools of Aquinas Church of England Education Trust Limited, income was £7,918 and spending £7,979 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Bromley · Bromley local authority: places and applications

St Nicholas Church of England Primary is part of Aquinas Church of England Education Trust Limited, which runs 13 schools. The nearest others:

• St George's, Bickley, Church of England Primary School Bromley
• Trinity Church of England Primary School Bromley
• Bishop Justus CofE School Bromley
• Parish Church of England Primary School Bromley
• St Mark's Church of England Primary School Bromley
• Bishop Ridley Church of England Primary School Welling
• Keston Church of England Primary School Keston
• St John's Church of England Primary School London
• Cudham Church of England Primary School Westerham
• Robertsbridge Community College Robertsbridge

What is St Nicholas Church of England Primary's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Nicholas Church of England Primary is Outstanding, from an inspection in January 2025.

When was St Nicholas Church of England Primary last inspected by Ofsted?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary was last inspected in January 2025.

How many pupils does St Nicholas Church of England Primary have?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary has 215 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Nicholas Church of England Primary cover?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Nicholas Church of England Primary's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Nicholas Church of England Primary?

St Nicholas Church of England Primary is at School Road, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 5PQ.