St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale, WN8 6TN · Lancashire · primary school
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82nd of 448 primary schools in Lancashire we can score, 481 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 7.9/10 against 3,948 of them, against 7.5/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 | 78.0 · 84 | 40% | 3.36 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 9.0 · 61 | 25% | 1.53 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 78.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the figure was 9.0% against a national median of 7%. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (7.9 out of 10 against similar schools, 7.5 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in April 2023.
Beyond the classroom
The school offers a breakfast club, an after-school club, and The 3:20 Club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 229 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
Since the last inspection was in 2023, what specific improvements have been made to the curriculum since then? How does the school support pupils who are not yet meeting the expected standard in maths?
What Ofsted said about St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Overview
St James’ Catholic Primary School is described as a ‘nurturing school’ where there is a ‘genuine warmth’ in interactions between pupils and staff. Pupils feel safe, behave well, and engage enthusiastically in their learning, benefiting from an ‘ambitious curriculum’ and high expectations for attendance and conduct.
Strengths
- Staff adopt a ‘loving approach’ to relationships, helping pupils feel ‘well cared for and happy’.
- Leaders provide ‘effective curriculum guidance’ in many subjects, ensuring teachers deliver content in a ‘logical order’.
- Phonics is delivered ‘consistently well’ in the early stages, with pupils enjoying lessons and ‘daily story time sessions’.
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) have their needs identified early and receive appropriate adaptations to access learning.
- Leaders are ‘highly considerate of staff well-being and workload’, resulting in high staff morale.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must review strategies to improve attendance, as some pupils miss out on ‘important learning’ due to irregular attendance.
- Additional reading support for pupils struggling with phonics lacks the necessary expertise, meaning some do not become ‘confident, fluent readers as quickly as they should’.
- Curriculum guidance is insufficient in some subjects, leading to inconsistent delivery where teachers are ‘less clear on how best to teach important knowledge’.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff knowing how to recognise and report welfare concerns and the curriculum supporting pupils to keep themselves safe.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 58% |
| 2023/24 | 74% |
| 2024/25 | 78% |
| 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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