History

The site of the original school in Holly Walk was purchased in 1852 and was opened as "St Mary’s Upper District School". In 1878 the building of a new church led to the school falling within the boundary of the newly formed parish of St Paul's. It was renamed St Paul’s Parochial School later the same year. In 1911 it was largely rebuilt, and still stands in Holly Walk. Originally educating children up to the age of fourteen, it then became a Junior and Infant School (five to eleven year olds) in 1921.

In 1965 work began on the new site in Upper Holly Walk. A second phase was added to this new site in 1972, with the completion in September 1976. The two sites merged to become a Combined School (catering for children from five to twelve years of age). In 1992 an extension was added to the new building and the First School, which had remained on the original site, moved to Upper Holly Walk. In September 1996 St Paul’s became a Primary School again.

In 1999 further internal re-organization and building took place to create space for a nursery class.  Children may now join in the year of their fourth birthday, attending part-time in the nursery. In the year of their fifth birthday they can join reception full-time and remain until they are eleven years old.