St Nicholas' School

St Nicholas' School is a special school in Canterbury for children aged 4 to 19, teaching boys and girls. Around 390 pupils are on roll. On our figures that is above the typical size for a special school in Canterbury. It is a maintained school within the Kent local authority area. The school has its own sixth form for post-16 study. The headteacher is Mr Richard Dalton.

Inspection at a glance

Ofsted rated St Nicholas' School Good at its inspection on 7 February 2024. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.

How the school is performing

Attendance works out at roughly 88.9% (absence 11.1%) (2024/25). Around 55.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals. Figures come from the Department for Education's published school performance data and are shown in full further down this page.

Getting a place at St Nicholas' School

St Nicholas' School is a special school, so places are arranged through the education, health and care plan process rather than the normal application round. Kent names the school in a child's EHCP after consulting it. Always check the current admissions policy on the school's own website before you apply, because criteria can change year to year.

SEND at a glance

St Nicholas' School is a specialist SEND setting, so every pupil on roll has identified additional needs. Named areas of need it supports include Autism, Speech, language and communication, Social, emotional and mental health, Specific learning difficulties, Moderate learning difficulties, Severe learning difficulties, Profound and multiple learning difficulties, Visual impairment. Recorded provision: Specialist school: SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty; VI - Visual Impairment; SLCN - Speech, language and Communication; ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder; SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health; MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment; PD - Physical Disability; MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty; SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty; PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.

St Nicholas' School contact details and location

St Nicholas' School is at Holme Oak Close, Nunnery Fields, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 3JJ. The school office can be reached on 01227 464316. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.