Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston

Academy · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Part of MATER ECCLESIAE CATHOLIC MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

Poulton Street, Ashton, Preston, PR2 2SA

01772 726937 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 26 September 2023, before conversion
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths47%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 94th highest of 112 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 13% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils209Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 189 in 2019, 186 in 2021, 198 in 2022, 208 in 2023, 209 in 2024, 205 in 2025, 209 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.919 for 20 places, September 2026
67th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 38% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 26 September 2023. 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.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Early yearsGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

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

30 pupils in this year group.

47% — 13 points below the Lancashire average, and 15 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 47% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 7% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 63% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 60% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 70% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 101 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 102 104 105
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: 67%This school 2023/24: 76%This school 2024/25: 47% This school England 62% 2022/23 67% 2023/24 76% 2024/25 47%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered20
Families who put it first19
Of those, offered a place19 (100%)
Families who listed it at all48

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.8 · 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 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
29th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 67% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
30.2% 25.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
41st highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 48% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.9% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
29th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 71% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
17.6% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
19th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 81% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
34.6% 16.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
46th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 77% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
4.1% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
49th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 72% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
8.2% 12.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
77th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 37% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.0 2.6 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 47th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 57% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.5% 1.2% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.07% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 77th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 44% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
20.1 21.1 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 47th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 67% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
11.7 10.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
67th highest of 107 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 35% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
8.8% 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 Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston's Ofsted rating?

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 26 September 2023.

How did Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 47% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points below the England average of 62%.

Is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 19 families put Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston as their first choice for 20 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 19 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.