St Richard's Catholic Primary School
Castle Avenue, Dover, CT16 1EZ
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Pupils
192
Headteacher
Mr Colin Taylor
Type
Primary
Ofsted
Good
Faith
Roman Catholic
Local authority
Kent
Academy
Yes
About St Richard's Catholic Primary School
St Richard's Catholic Primary School is a primary school in Dover for children aged 4 to 11, teaching boys and girls. Around 192 pupils are on roll. The school has a Roman Catholic character. It is an academy, so its governing trust sets its own admission arrangements within the national code, and Kent coordinates offers. The headteacher is Mr Colin Taylor.
Inspection at a glance
Ofsted rated St Richard's Catholic Primary School Good at its inspection on 6 October 2022. The full inspection report is linked from this page so you can read the inspectors' own words.
How the school is performing
At key stage 2, 69% met expected standard in reading, writing and maths (2024/25). Attendance works out at roughly 95.4% (absence 4.6%) (2024/25). Around 32.5% 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School
You apply for a place at St Richard's Catholic Primary School on the primary common application form through Kent, with the national deadline of 15 January. If the school is oversubscribed, places are allocated on its published admissions criteria, which usually give priority to looked-after children, siblings and distance from home to school. There is no separate entrance assessment. 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School is a mainstream school, supporting pupils with SEND alongside their classmates through the graduated approach of assess, plan, do, review. The school's SEN information report is the authoritative source and is linked in the SEND section below.
St Richard's Catholic Primary School contact details and location
St Richard's Catholic Primary School is at Castle Avenue, Dover, Kent, CT16 1EZ. The school office can be reached on 01304 201118. A map, directions and the school's own website link are on this page.
Ofsted inspection
Overall effectiveness
Last inspection: 6 October 2022
St Richard's Catholic Primary School admissions and catchment area
No entrance test - you apply on the common application form
St Richard's Catholic Primary School does not run its own entrance test. As an academy, its governing trust is the admissions authority and sets the arrangements within the national Admissions Code, while Kent County Council coordinates applications and offers. Oversubscription criteria usually cover looked-after children, siblings, distance from the school, and (for faith schools) faith criteria. As a Roman Catholic school, faith-based criteria may apply in oversubscription - a supplementary information form is usually required.
Official links
Dates and criteria change each year - always confirm with the school and Kent County Council. KCC school admissions →
How to apply
1. Apply on the common application form (autumn term before Reception)
Complete the Primary Common Application Form on the Kent County Council website by mid-January - for September 2026 entry the window ran from Friday 7 November 2025 to Thursday 15 January 2026, and offers were emailed on Thursday 16 April 2026.
2. National Offer Day (mid-April)
You'll be told your allocated school by email - for 2026 entry KCC emailed offers on Thursday 16 April 2026 after 4pm, with offers visible online from 5pm.
3. Accept and, if needed, appeal
Accept your place by the given date. If you didn't get your preferred school, you have the right to appeal.
4. In-year admissions
Moving mid-year? In-year applications for an academy are usually made direct to the school - check its website for the in-year form, or contact Kent County Council if you need help finding a place.
Didn't get a place? You can appeal
If St Richard's Catholic Primary School is not offered on National Offer Day, you can appeal the decision. The appeal is heard by an independent panel and is free to submit.
How to appeal a school offerSt Richard's Catholic Primary School results and attendance
KS2 results
A-Level results
N/A
Attendance
Free school meals
SEND support at St Richard's Catholic Primary School
SEND setting
Mainstream school
For full details, visit the school's SEND information page.
Wraparound care and nursery at St Richard's Catholic Primary School
Nursery
No
Breakfast club
Please check with the school
After-school club
Please check with the school
St Richard's Catholic Primary School term dates: Kent standard term dates for 2026/27
These are Kent County Council's standard term dates. Your school may use different dates and INSET days, so check the school's website before making plans.
Autumn 1 · 2026
1 Sep-23 Oct
Autumn 2 · 2026
2 Nov-18 Dec
Spring 1 · 2027
4 Jan-12 Feb
Spring 2 · 2027
22 Feb-25 Mar
Summer 1 · 2027
12 Apr-28 May
Summer 2 · 2027
7 Jun-21 Jul
St Richard's Catholic Primary School: frequently asked questions
How do I apply for a place at St Richard's Catholic Primary School?
Apply through Kent on the primary common application form by 15 January, naming St Richard's Catholic Primary School as one of your preferences. Offers are made in April.
What is St Richard's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated St Richard's Catholic Primary School Good at its inspection on 6 October 2022. You can open the full report from the inspection section of this page.
What SEND support does St Richard's Catholic Primary School offer?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School is recorded as a mainstream school. The school's SEN information report has the current detail and is linked in the SEND section of this page.
What are St Richard's Catholic Primary School's term dates and INSET days?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School follows the standard Kent pattern for 2026/27, set out term by term on this page. INSET days are set by the school itself, so confirm them on the school's own calendar.
Where is St Richard's Catholic Primary School and how do I contact the school?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School is at Castle Avenue, Dover, Kent, CT16 1EZ. The office number is 01304 201118. A map and directions are on this page.
How big is St Richard's Catholic Primary School and what ages does it take?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School has around 192 pupils on roll and covers ages 4 to 11. It is a mixed school taking boys and girls.
About this information. Compiled from published sources including the Department for Education, Ofsted and the school's own website. Last reviewed Summer 2026.
Report an update →Do you run a business for families in Dover?
Local businesses, tutors, clubs and nurseries can have a full profile page here, in front of the parents already reading about Dover schools.
Get my profile builtSchools near St Richard's Catholic Primary School
The closest schools to CT16 1EZ, measured from each school's own location.
Dover · Primary · 0.2 miles
Charlton CofE Primary School
Dover · Primary · 0.4 miles
Barton Junior School
Dover · Primary · 0.5 miles
Dover St Mary's CofE Primary School
Dover · Primary · 0.6 miles
Guston Church of England Primary School
Dover · Primary · 0.7 miles
Priory Fields School
Dover · Primary · 0.7 miles
Shatterlocks Infant and Nursery School
Help us keep this page accurate
Spotted something wrong?
Tell us what needs updating on St Richard's Catholic Primary School and we'll review it before the page changes.