St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington
Wigan, WN6 9RE · Lancashire · primary school
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233rd 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 the 2,280 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.7/10 among them, against 6.6/10 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 | 65.0 · 52 | 40% | 2.07 |
| Ofsted | 6 | 35% | 0.19 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 18.0 · 89 | 25% | 2.23 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 65.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. For the higher standard, the school recorded 18.0%, against a national median of 7%. An Ofsted inspection took place in May 2026 under the new framework, which grades areas separately without an overall grade. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 4.7 out of 10 among them, against 6.6 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
The school provides both a breakfast club and an after-school club for wraparound care.
Getting in
The published school roll is 67 pupils against a stated capacity of 140. 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 to reach the higher standard in core subjects? What specific activities are available within the breakfast and after-school clubs? How does the new Ofsted report card influence current teaching priorities?
What Ofsted said about St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington
Overview
St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School is described as a place where pupils feel valued, safe, and belong, with strong relationships between staff, families, and the community. While attendance is improving and early years provision is effective, the report highlights that teaching quality varies and some pupils, particularly those with special educational needs, do not achieve as well as they could due to gaps in basic knowledge.
Strengths
- Pupils are “happy, safe and settled” with “warm, caring relationships” with staff who know them well.
- Attendance is “improving” as leaders work closely with families to remove barriers and provide targeted support.
- The early years curriculum is “designed carefully,” prioritising communication and language to help children grow in confidence.
- Pupils make “meaningful contributions” to the community through charity work and take on “meaningful leadership roles.”
- Leaders ensure disadvantaged pupils are “fully included” and access the same enrichment opportunities as their peers.
Areas to improve
- Leaders must address why “teaching quality differs across the school” and act quickly to improve consistency, particularly regarding subject knowledge and activity difficulty.
- Support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities needs to be more precise, as current inconsistencies “hamper the progress they make.”
- Governors should deepen their understanding of the school’s work to provide “effective challenge” and hold leaders to account more closely.
Safeguarding
The safeguarding standards are met, with leaders establishing an “open culture in which safeguarding is everyone's responsibility” and concerns actively identified and managed.
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 58% |
| 2023/24 | 50% |
| 2024/25 | 65% |
| 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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