St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Skelmersdale, WN8 6PF · Lancashire · primary school
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160th 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.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 7.2/10 against 1,253 of them, against 5.7/10 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 | 72.0 · 71 | 40% | 2.84 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.81 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 4.0 · 35 | 25% | 0.89 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 72.0% 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 4.0% against a national median of 7%. Ofsted rated the school Good in September 2022. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.2 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 196 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 who are below the expected standard in maths? What specific activities are available in the after-school club? How has the teaching approach changed since the 2022 inspection?
What Ofsted said about St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Overview
St John's Catholic Primary School continues to be a good school, where pupils thrive due to staff having "high expectations of their achievement and behaviour." The report highlights a calm, purposeful environment where pupils feel safe, treat others with respect, and achieve well across many subjects, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed an "ambitious and logically ordered curriculum" that helps pupils acquire necessary knowledge and skills.
- Reading is prioritised throughout the school, with an effective phonics curriculum ensuring most pupils become "confident, fluent readers."
- Staff quickly identify pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, ensuring they receive specialist support and do not miss out on learning.
- The school provides a "rich and varied personal development curriculum," including opportunities for charity work and learning about mental well-being.
- Staff are described as "supportive and caring," with leaders being "approachable and considerate of their mental health, well-being and workload."
Areas to improve
- In a small number of subjects, leaders’ checks on pupils’ learning do not provide sufficient information about "missing or forgotten knowledge," hindering teachers' ability to help pupils build new knowledge securely.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with "stringent safeguarding procedures" in place and staff well-trained to quickly refer concerns to other agencies.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 57% |
| 2023/24 | 48% |
| 2024/25 | 72% |
| 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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