St Dominic CofE Primary School

St Dominic CofE Primary is a small Church of England primary school within the St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust. Inspectors found it exceptional across every judged area, with a culture of continual improvement shared by staff, governors and the trust. The school has grown significantly in recent years, and more than half of pupils have joined after Reception; new pupils and families settle quickly because of the warm welcome, including early support for children starting in the early years. The curriculum is rich and well implemented, with reading central to school life and strong phonics teaching. Early years children get off to a flying start, and pupils’ writing, particularly in early years and key stages 1, is exceptional. Pupils behave well, achieve highly and benefit from an extensive range of clubs, trips and community-linked experiences, especially disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. Personal development is strong, and pupils show a secure understanding of diversity, equality and respect. Leadership and governance are highly effective. Local governors and trustees fulfil their duties diligently, support and challenge the school appropriately, and focus on staff well-being and development. Safeguarding arrangements are effective. The report identifies no areas of concern or required improvement.

Strengths

• Exceptional curriculum that sparks pupils’ interest and brings learning to life through visits, visitors and community projects
• Outstanding early years provision with an inspirational environment that builds curiosity and independence
• Reading is central to school life, with highly knowledgeable phonics teaching and regular checks that help pupils keep up
• Pupils’ writing, especially in early years and key stage 1, is exceptional and continues to a high standard in older years
• Mathematics lessons use a consistent ‘ROCK’ recall starter that helps pupils solve problems and explain their thinking
• Pupils behave well, show pride in their work and achieve highly across the school
• An extensive range of clubs, trips and activities strongly supports character development, particularly for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND
• Personal, social and health education prepares pupils well for life in modern Britain, including diversity, equality and respect
• Leadership, governance and trust support are highly effective, with a strong focus on continual improvement and staff well-being
• 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 Dominic CofE Primary School attended 93.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 26.1% 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, 1.3% of pupils at St Dominic CofE Primary School 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 Dominic CofE Primary School had 13.7 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, 10.8% of pupils at St Dominic CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.6% 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 Dominic CofE Primary School received £7,210 and spent £7,262 for each of its 80 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £112,000 (£1,397 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust, income was £7,530 and spending £7,406 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 Saltash · Cornwall local authority: places and applications

St Dominic CofE Primary School is part of St Barnabas Church of England Multi Academy Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• St Mellion Church of England Primary School Saltash
• Quethiock CofE School Liskeard
• St Germans Primary School Saltash
• Antony Church of England School Torpoint
• St Martin's CofE Primary School Liskeard
• Millbrook CofE Primary School Torpoint
• St Nicolas' CofE VA School, Downderry Torpoint
• Braddock CofE Primary School Liskeard
• Lerryn CofE Primary School Lostwithiel
• St Winnow CofE School

What is St Dominic CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Dominic CofE Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2024.

When was St Dominic CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Dominic CofE Primary School was last inspected in November 2024.

How many pupils does St Dominic CofE Primary School have?

St Dominic CofE Primary School has 83 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Dominic CofE Primary School cover?

St Dominic CofE Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are St Dominic CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Dominic CofE Primary School?

St Dominic CofE Primary School is at St Dominic, St Dominick, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6SU.