SchoolScoresHoly Spirit Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Brunswick Street, Parr, St Helens, WA9 2JE
01744 678670 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 April 2019.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 December 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
42 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
St Helens comparisons use the 17 of its 38 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 21 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | St Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 70% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 12th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 22% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 10th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 37% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 13 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 47% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 46% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 31 parents who had raised a concern Joint 5th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 61% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 79% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 9th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 20%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. St Helens figures pool parents at the St Helens schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
29 pupils in this year group.
62% — about the same as the St. Helens average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 76% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 79% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 76% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 St. Helens. 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 29 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 31 |
| Of those, offered a place | 27 (87%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 62 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.1
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 | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 17th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 34.9% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 7th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 25th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.6% | 16.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.5% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 12th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 57% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.8% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 14th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 58% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.5% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 32nd lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 22% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.7 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 33rd lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 11% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 30th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 19.3 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 14th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 44% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.4 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 7th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 85% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 26.3% | 14.2%* | 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
- Broad Oak Community Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sutton Oak CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Allanson Street Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Legh Vale Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grange Valley Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Blackbrook Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Merton Bank Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 28% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ashurst Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Robins Lane Community Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2024 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Anne's Catholic Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 35% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 April 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 December 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School?
88% of the 42 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 31 families put Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 29 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 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 132188.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.