Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Birkenhead, CH41 7DU · Wirral · primary school
Check the area around this school
25th of 74 primary schools in Wirral we can score, 90 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.2/10 against 229 of them, against 4.9/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 73.0 · 73 | 40% | 2.93 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 73.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in December 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 4.9 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 185 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils in reaching the higher standard in core subjects? What does the daily timetable look like for a Year 6 pupil? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating following the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about Holy Cross Catholic Primary School
Overview
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School is described as a “calm, caring, happy and purposeful” environment where pupils are proud to belong. The report highlights that leaders have successfully transformed the school since the previous inspection, ensuring a “broad, well-designed and ambitious” curriculum that supports most pupils, including those with special educational needs, in achieving well.
Strengths
- Pupils receive a “warm ‘Holy Cross welcome’” and consistently meet “very high expectations of behaviour,” treating others with respect.
- Teachers deliver a “consistent and effective approach to the teaching of reading,” with daily phonics sessions helping children make a “good start in learning to read.”
- Staff quickly identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs or English as an additional language, providing appropriate help so all can follow the “ambitious curriculum.”
- Governors play an “important role in the school’s improvement,” using their experience to carry out responsibilities with skill.
- Staff well-being is valued, with leaders ensuring staff are “not overworked” and considering their welfare when making changes.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should work with families and external agencies to improve attendance, as some pupils miss school for “birthdays and family holidays” and consequently do not reach their full potential.
- Leaders should review how subject-specific vocabulary is integrated into the curriculum, as the lack of systematic teaching in some subjects means some pupils struggle to explain what they have learned.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with leaders and staff undertaking regular training to spot risks and reporting concerns promptly to ensure pupils receive necessary help.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 60% |
| 2023/24 | 71% |
| 2024/25 | 73% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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