SchoolScoresHoly Cross Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Gautby Road, Bidston, Birkenhead, CH41 7DU
0151 652 8454 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 20 October 2022.
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 | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| 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
15 pupils in this year group.
73% — 17 points above the Wirral average, and 11 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 73% | 56% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 72% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 80% | 67% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 87% | 68% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 | 23 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 20 |
| Of those, offered a place | 20 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 30 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 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.
This is a Roman Catholic school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Wirral | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 81.6% | 32.7%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 3.8%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.2% | 18.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.0% | 7.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 9% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.1% | 5.7%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 19.7% | 14.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 1st lowest of 13 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 10% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 15.7 | 19.6 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 24% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.2 | 10.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Birkenhead. Higher than 63% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 16.7% | 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
- Bidston Avenue Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Co-op Academy Portland 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 45% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bidston Village CofE (Controlled) Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 27% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Paul's Catholic Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 expected, 5 needs attention · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Manor Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady and St Edward's Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
- Park Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Leasowe Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Co-op Academy Hillside 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024, before conversion) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Holy Cross Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 20 October 2022.
How did Holy Cross Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points above the England average of 62%.
Is Holy Cross Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 20 families put Holy Cross Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 23 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 20 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 105087.
- 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.