SchoolScoresCathcart Street Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Dover Close, Birkenhead, Wirral, CH41 3JY
0151 647 7349 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 26 March 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
31 pupils in this year group.
26% — 30 points below the Wirral average, and 36 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 26% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 55% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 48% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 32% | 68% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 95 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Wirral. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 26 |
| Of those, offered a place | 26 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 43 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 78.1% | 32.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 42nd highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.2% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 95% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 26.3% | 18.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 1st highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 24.1% | 7.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 52nd lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 51st lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 4% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 26.2% | 14.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 53rd lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 10% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 7.1 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 56th lowest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Lower than 4% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.5% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 41st highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 30% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.8 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 53rd highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 8% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.7 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 9th highest of 58 state primary schools in Wirral. Higher than 87% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 27.5% | 15.6%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- The Priory Parish CofE Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodlands Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2022 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
- Birkenhead Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingsway Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- Co-op Academy Portland 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodchurch Road Academy 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 expected · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wallasey 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mersey Park Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Cathcart Street Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Cathcart Street Primary School was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 March 2024.
How did Cathcart Street Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 26% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 36 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Cathcart Street Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 26 families put Cathcart Street Primary School as their first choice for 29 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 26 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 105048.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.