SchoolScoresRainford CofE Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Part of LIVERPOOL DIOCESAN SCHOOLS TRUST
Cross Pit Lane, Rainford, St Helens, WA11 8AJ
01744 883281 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 10 May 2012. This inspection was of the school before it changed to its current form (for example, before becoming an academy).
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 28 September 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
74 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
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 Joint 8th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 47% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95% | 92% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 10th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 14th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 20% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied 8th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 24% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 44% | 46% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 56 parents who had raised a concern 14th highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 20% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 71% | 79% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 15th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 21% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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
43 pupils in this year group.
70% — 8 points above the St. Helens average, and 8 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 70% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 9% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 77% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 81% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 70% | 73% | 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. | 104 | 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 1.5 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 40 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (73%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 71 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.3
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 33rd highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 21st highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.8% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 13th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.1% | 16.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 33rd highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 6th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 89% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.6% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 6th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 24th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 31% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 27th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 24% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 66% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.9 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 18th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 39% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.1 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 35th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 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
- Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 37% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rainford Brook Lodge Community Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crawford Village Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 92% met expected standard (KS2)
- Little Digmoor Primary School 2.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bishop Martin CofE Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2024 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bleak Hill Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 7% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 88% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moorside Community Primary Academy School 2.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Rainford CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Rainford CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 10 May 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 September 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Rainford CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Rainford CofE Primary School?
81% of the 74 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Rainford CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Rainford CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 40 families put Rainford CofE Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about 1.5 first-choice applications for every place. 29 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 148365.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
- 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.