Newton-le-Willows Primary School

Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Sanderling Road, Newton-le-Willows, WA12 9UF

01744 678390 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 expected, 6 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 6 January 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths58%England 62% · 2024/25
5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 32% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils563Room for 637 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 582 in 2019, 599 in 2021, 606 in 2022, 631 in 2023, 629 in 2024, 602 in 2025, 563 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.847 for 56 places, September 2026
5th highest of 5 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 12% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 January 2026 , published 1 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

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

St. Helens comparisons use the 7 of its 54 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 47 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 schoolSt. HelensEngland
My child is happy at this school
5th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 47% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 91% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 43% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92% 92% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 30% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 85% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 40 parents who had raised a concern
3rd highest of 6 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 42% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 80% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
Joint 3rd highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St. Helens.
Higher than 51% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
92%said yes 89% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

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

84 pupils in this year group.

58% — 4 points below the St. Helens average, and 4 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 58% 62% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 8% 8% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 74% 75% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 80% 75% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 73% 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
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 42%This school 2023/24: 56%This school 2024/25: 58% This school England 62% 2022/23 42% 2023/24 56% 2024/25 58%

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 fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered56
Families who put it first47
Of those, offered a place47 (100%)
Families who listed it at all131

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8

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.

Admissions dates and schools in St. Helens

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSt. HelensEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
25.7% 30.4%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 53% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
3.2% 3.9%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
6th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.8% 16.3%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.1% 7.7%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
4th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
5.3% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Lower than 34% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
14.6% 12.7%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
5th lowest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Lower than 9% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
7.5 2.9 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.7% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded2 pupils 0.33% 0.08% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
4th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 46% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
20.3 20.7 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
2nd highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 57% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.1 9.8 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
5th highest of 6 state primary schools in Newton-le-Willows.
Higher than 35% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
8.8% 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

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

Questions parents ask

What is Newton-le-Willows Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Newton-le-Willows Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 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 Newton-le-Willows Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend Newton-le-Willows Primary School?

92% of the 51 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Newton-le-Willows Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Newton-le-Willows Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 47 families put Newton-le-Willows Primary School as their first choice for 56 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 47 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.