SchoolScoresRectory CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Rectory Road, North Ashton, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 0QF
01744 678470 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 29 June 2026.
In short: 5 expected, 2 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.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Wigan comparisons use the 33 of its 70 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 37 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 | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 1% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 67% | 93% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 33rd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 3% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60% | 91% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern Joint 29th highest of 31 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 4% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54% | 81% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 32nd highest of 33 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Wigan. Higher than 3% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60%said yes | 89% | 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. Wigan figures pool parents at the Wigan 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
15 pupils in this year group.
27% — 35 points below the St. Helens average, and 35 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 27% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 60% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 47% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 33% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 99 | 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 4 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 3 |
| Of those, offered a place | 3 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 9 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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.
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 32 places for autism. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 12th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 87% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 45.9% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 100% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.6% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 37th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.3% | 16.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 51st highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 66th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 11% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 68th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 6% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 23.7% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 31st lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 56% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 43rd lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 47% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.8% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 70th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 0% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 7.5 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 70th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 0% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 3.9 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 17th highest of 66 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 71% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 19.3% | 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Garswood Primary and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2017), confirmed with concerns 2024 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bryn St Peter's CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Nicol Mere School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 97% met expected standard (KS2)
- R L Hughes Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Oswald's Catholic Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 82% met expected standard (KS2)
- Winstanley Community Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marus Bridge Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas CofE Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Wigan 1.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Rectory CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Rectory CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 5 expected, 2 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Rectory CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 35 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Rectory CofE Primary School?
60% of the 15 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Rectory CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Rectory CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 3 families put Rectory CofE Primary School as their first choice for 4 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 3 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 104797.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 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.