Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class

Liverpool Old Road, Much Hoole, Preston, PR4 5JQ

01772 613219 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 expected, 6 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 20 January 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths80%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 15th highest of 112 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 87% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils81Room for 119 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 116 in 2019, 104 in 2021, 98 in 2022, 96 in 2023, 98 in 2024, 89 in 2025, 81 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.96 for 7 places, September 2026
Joint 97th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 14% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 20 January 2026 , published 19 March 2026.

In short: 1 expected, 6 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

24 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Preston (Lancashire) comparisons use the 20 of its 124 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 104 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.

StatementThis schoolPreston (Lancashire)England
My child is happy at this school
Joint 3rd highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 69% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
96% 90% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
12th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 43% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 91% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 13th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 38% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 86% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 19 parents who had raised a concern
Joint 13th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 29% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 79% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 13th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 24% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83%said yes 88% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 27%). 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. Preston (Lancashire) figures pool parents at the Preston (Lancashire) 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

20 pupils in this year group.

80% — 20 points above the Lancashire average, and 18 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 80% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 10% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 85% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 80% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 90% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 45%This school 2023/24: 73%This school 2024/25: 80% This school England 62% 2022/23 45% 2023/24 73% 2024/25 80%

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 Lancashire. 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 offered7
Families who put it first6
Of those, offered a place6 (100%)
Families who listed it at all23

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.4 · 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 Church of England 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
79th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
14.6% 25.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
69th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 33% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.3% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
99th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 10% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
7.9% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 73rd highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 31% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.5% 16.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
Joint 85th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 38% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.4% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
73rd lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
11.9% 12.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.6 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 88th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 35% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
19.3 21.1 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
35th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 77% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
12.4 10.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 107 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 98% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
49.1% 12.9%* 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 20 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 expected, 6 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 18 points above the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School?

83% of the 24 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 6 families put Hoole St Michael CofE Primary School as their first choice for 7 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 6 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.