School Chooser

St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyRoman Catholic226 pupilsNurseryBradford
School Chooser Score
68
Above
similar schools
Likely range 44 to 85, so it could be “in line”
Out of 100. Better than 57% of the 50 schools most like it. Much the same over the last five years.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, November 2022
Reached the expected level at 1169%England 63%
Attendance95.2%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families20%A bit fewer than most schools
PlacesFull226 pupils, 210 places
Pupils per teacher26.2School workforce census

St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy is a converter academy in Bradford for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 226 pupils, 16 more than it has places for. About 20 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit fewer than at most schools. We give it 68 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 57% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Scotchman Road, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 5AT01274 543445scfm.bcwcat.co.ukMr John Devlin executive headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 23 November 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Outstanding
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

29 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1169%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level3%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score105.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score107.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 89%89%20172018: 73%73%20182019: 90%90%20192023: 63%63%20232024: 80%80%20242025: 69%69%2025
Since 2017: -20%Steady overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure2025202420232019†2018†2017†BradfordEngland
Pupils tested293030303028
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths69%80%63%90%73%89%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths3%7%7%13%10%7%7%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score105.0107.0104.0108.0107.0110.0104.7105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score107.0106.0106.0107.0104.0110.0103.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score105.0109.0105.0112.0108.0113.0104.3105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard79%87%63%93%87%96%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard79%87%83%93%80%100%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)76%87%83%90%80%89%
Reading progressReading progress score-2.0+4.8+4.6+5.6
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.9+3.9+2.7+5.6
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged73%86%50%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged67%78%67%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

† These results are for St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, the school this one replaced in May 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
73%67%
Gap 6 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
67%71%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
72%69%
Gap 3 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%3%
Gap 3 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Nearly full209 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
100% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Bradford council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll226Census January 2026
Places210108% full
Pupils from low-income families19%20% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English59%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support18%40 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%7 pupils with a plan
Average class size28.38 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils13%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)20%£63,550 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls116 / 110
White British pupils4%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 27.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 30.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (24), emotional and mental health (9), Specific learning difficulty (7), Autistic spectrum disorder (3), Moderate learning difficulty (3), Severe learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll226231238244246236
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals19%19%19%18%15%14%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language59%61%59%59%62%66%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support18%21%21%24%20%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%1%2%1%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 95.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance95.2%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school10.8%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils11.72024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission0.9%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19†England
Sessions missedOverall absence4.8%6.0%5.9%6.1%3.5%2.6%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.0%4.9%4.8%5.1%2.5%2.1%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence0.9%1.2%1.2%1.0%1.0%0.5%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence10.8%17.1%17.6%19.8%6.6%2.2%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate11.73.40.80.00.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

† These attendance figures are for St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, the school this one replaced in May 2020. Same building and the same children. It got a new registration number, usually because it joined an academy trust.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers8.3full-time equivalent, 11 people
Pupils per teacher26.2Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants9.0full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£56,448
Teachers who left in the year29%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher1.22024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£6,464England £7,128. Total £1.4m
Income per pupil£6,661England £7,587. Total £1.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,795England £3,405
Money in reserve11%A healthy amount put by: £170k, £759 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£44kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£6,464spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m81612 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate135 per 1,000 people49% higher than the England average
Typical house price£180,000Bradford
Nearest bus stop80 mScotchman Road Westfield Rd, 20 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Carlton MillsAcademy0 m287Good 202314Compare
Margaret McMillan Primary SchoolAcademy240 m553No overall grade 202538Compare
Lilycroft Primary SchoolAcademy440 m367No overall grade 202437Compare
St Philip's CofE Primary SchoolAcademy630 m210Good 202352Compare
Westbourne Primary SchoolAcademy740 m381Not inspected10Compare
Miriam Lord Primary SchoolAcademy780 m370Report card 202572Compare
Girlington Primary SchoolCouncil840 m492Good 202328Compare
Whetley AcademyAcademy880 m387Good 202328Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats57%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 68 is 8 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 60 · highest 98100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 68 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 68% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 44 to 85. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%in line
+0.07
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 29 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.8 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.09
DfE progress measure; 29 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%in line
+0.01
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%in line
+0.03
2024/25; 186 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.00
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 29 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy scores 68 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 57% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 44 to 85, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much.

What is St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy good at its last full inspection on 23 November 2022.

How good are St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 69% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 3% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy have?

226 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 108% full.

Is St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?

Pupils were in school 95.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 11% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St Cuthbert and the First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy?

The average class had 28.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 13% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Scotchman Road, Heaton, Bradford, BD9 5AT
Telephone
01274 543445
Website
scfm.bcwcat.co.uk
Executive Headteacher
Mr John Devlin
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Diocese of Leeds (rc)
Multi-academy trust
Blessed Christopher Wharton Catholic Academy Trust (19 schools)
Local authority
Bradford
Ward
Toller
Constituency
Bradford West
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 May 2020 (academy converter)
URN
147923 · LAESTAB 3803354 · UKPRN 10085999
Formerly
St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs' Catholic Primary School

Where these figures come from