School Chooser

St Paul's Catholic Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedAcademyRoman Catholic169 pupilsNurseryBirmingham
School Chooser Score
45
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 23 to 70
Out of 100. Better than 79% of the 50 schools most like it. Getting better year on year.
OfstedAs expected teachingOfsted report card, February 2026
Reached the expected level at 1165%England 63%
Attendance93.2%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families66%Far more than most schools
Parents would recommend93%15 Parent View responses
Places41 spare169 pupils, 210 places

St Paul's Catholic Primary School is a converter academy in Birmingham for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 169 pupils and room for 210. About 66 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 45 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 79% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in February 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.

Sisefield Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9JB0121 464 1546stpaulrc.bham.sch.ukMrs Haylia Williams headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted visited on 10 February 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.

TeachingOfsted calls this “curriculum and teaching”
As expected
Achievement
As expected
Behaviour and attendanceOfsted calls this “attendance and behaviour”
As expected
Support for every childOfsted calls this “inclusion”
Strong
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development and wellbeing”
Strong
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and governance”
As expected
Early years
As expected
SafeguardingAre pupils kept safe?
Pupils are kept safe
Met
Ofsted's scale:ExceptionalStrong standardExpected standardNeeds attentionUrgent improvement

Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
16 November 2021Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1Good

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1165%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level15%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score106.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score106.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 58%58%20172018: 79%79%20182019: 72%72%20192023: 61%61%20232024: 67%67%20242025: 65%65%2025
Since 2017: +7%Improving overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017BirminghamEngland
Pupils tested263028292926
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths65%67%61%72%79%58%65%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths15%7%0%14%17%0%8%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score106.0107.0102.0107.0105.0101.0105.6105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score106.0104.0104.0108.0105.0102.0104.9104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score107.0105.0103.0110.0106.0108.0106.5105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard81%73%68%76%79%65%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard77%77%79%83%83%73%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)81%77%75%83%86%69%
Reading progressReading progress score-1.7+2.1+1.1-2.1
Maths progressMaths progress score+1.0+2.6+1.8-1.8
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged61%60%65%73%45%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged75%80%50%100%100%

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.

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. 2 of the 4 gaps are 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
61%75%
Gap 14 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
64%67%
Gap 3 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
91%65%
Gap 26 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
6%15%
Gap 9 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.

Plenty of spare places168 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
80% full

42 places were empty (20% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 12% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

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 Birmingham council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

What parents say

Would recommend the school93%England 87%
My child is happy here93%agree or strongly agree
My child feels safe93%
Positive overall86%
My child is happy at this school
93%England 89%
My child feels safe at this school
93%England 90%
Pupils are well behavedThe school makes sure its pupils are well behaved
87%England 83%
Has your child been bullied here?Parents answering yes
20% yesEngland 18%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOnly parents whose child was bullied
67%England 50%
My child gets the right support to learn well
93%England 85%
Does your child have SEND?Parents answering yes
33% yesEngland 26%
The school gives them the support they needOnly parents of children with SEND
100%England 71%
The school communicates well with me
93%England 80%
My concerns have been dealt with properlyWhen I have raised concerns
80%England 69%
Decisions put the child's best interests first
93%England 82%
I would recommend this school
93%England 87%
Overall view of the school is positive
86%England 82%
Strongly agreeAgreeDon't knowDisagreeStrongly disagreeEngland, agree or yes

From Ofsted's Parent View survey: 15 parents answered in the year to 6 April 2026. Parents choose whether to fill it in, and many only do so when an inspection is coming, so don't read too much into small differences. The England figures are the average for primary schools with enough answers to publish.

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 roll169Census January 2026
Places21080% full
Pupils from low-income families65%66% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English30%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support21%35 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%5 pupils with a plan
Average class size18.89 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils11%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)64%£159,650 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls95 / 74
White British pupils37%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 18.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 26.5 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (11), emotional and mental health (10), Moderate learning difficulty (8), Autistic spectrum disorder (7), Specific learning difficulty (2), Vision impairment (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll169173186191188196
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals65%68%67%70%71%71%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language30%34%34%31%32%25%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support21%15%20%20%17%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans2%2%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance93.2%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school23.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.32024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission1.8%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.8%6.4%6.6%6.5%4.3%4.1%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.9%4.3%4.5%4.9%3.3%3.2%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence1.8%2.1%2.1%1.6%1.0%0.9%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence23.0%20.9%22.3%24.7%15.5%12.9%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.31.12.10.50.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00000

Staff and money

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

Teachers7.9full-time equivalent, 8 people
Pupils per teacher20.9Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants8.5full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,401
Teachers who left in the year25%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher4.52024/25

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£8,867England £7,128. Total £1.5m
Income per pupil£9,211England £7,587. Total £1.5m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,813England £3,405
Money in reserve-3%In the red: -£43k, -£261 per pupil. England 9%
Money in against money out+£57kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£8,867spent 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 m32212 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate113 per 1,000 people24% higher than the England average
Typical house price£235,000Birmingham

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
Ark Kings AcademyAcademy550 m739Good 202428Compare
Kings Norton Primary SchoolAcademy850 m410No overall grade 202553Compare
Broadmeadow Junior SchoolAcademy0.7 miles213Good 2023Compare
Hawkesley Church Primary AcademyAcademy0.7 miles219Report card 202638Compare
Bells Farm Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles195Good 202463Compare
Fairway Primary AcademyAcademy0.9 miles164Requires improvement 202410Compare
Broadmeadow Infant SchoolAcademy1.0 miles121Inadequate 2023Compare
The Oaks Primary SchoolAcademy1.0 miles297Not inspected65Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Paul's Catholic Primary School with the 48 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 48 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats79%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the top quarter of its group. Its score of 45 is 27 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 18 · highest 82100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 48 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Paul's Catholic Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
St Jude's Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic1.5 miles205Good 202282Compare
Merritts Brook Primary E-ACT AcademyAcademy2.9 miles225Not inspected74Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 45 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 45% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 23 to 70. 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%below
-0.09
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 26 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
-0.03
Ofsted report card, 0.6 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.08
DfE progress measure; 26 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%above
+0.09
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.12
2024/25; 152 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%well above
+0.15
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 26 pupils
What parents say5%in line
+0.01
Ofsted's Parent View survey, allowing for how many parents replied; 15 responses

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 Paul's Catholic Primary School a good school?

It is about average. St Paul's Catholic Primary School scores 45 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 79% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 23 to 70, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.

What is St Paul's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 10 February 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.

How good are St Paul's Catholic Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 65% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 15% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Paul's Catholic Primary School have?

169 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 80% full.

Is St Paul's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 42 places were empty in 2024/25 (20% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at St Paul's Catholic Primary School?

Pupils were in school 93.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

What do parents say about St Paul's Catholic Primary School?

93% of the 15 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey would recommend it to other parents, and 93% say their child is happy there. Across England, 87% of parents would recommend their child's school.

How big are the classes at St Paul's Catholic Primary School?

The average class had 18.8 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 11% 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
Sisefield Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9JB
Telephone
0121 464 1546
Website
www.stpaulrc.bham.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Haylia Williams
Type of school
Converter academy (Academy converter, academies)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Birmingham
Multi-academy trust
Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy Company (9 schools)
Local authority
Birmingham
Ward
King's Norton South
Constituency
Birmingham Northfield
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 April 2015 (academy converter)
URN
141830 · LAESTAB 3303366 · UKPRN 10049282
Formerly
St Paul's Catholic Primary School

Where these figures come from