Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Lodge Lane, Hindsford, Atherton, Manchester, M46 9BN

01942 883429 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card5 expected, 2 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 9 June 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths61%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 39% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils178Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 181 in 2019, 190 in 2021, 177 in 2022, 183 in 2023, 180 in 2024, 174 in 2025, 178 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.916 for 17 places, September 2026
6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 35% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 16 July 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.

AreaGrade
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. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
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. 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.

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Results

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

23 pupils in this year group.

61% — 5 points below the Wigan average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolWiganEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 61% 66% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 0% 10% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 70% 77% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 78% 74% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 70% 77% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 106 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 105 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 47%This school 2023/24: 64%This school 2024/25: 61% This school England 62% 2022/23 47% 2023/24 64% 2024/25 61%

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 Wigan. 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 offered17
Families who put it first16
Of those, offered a place16 (100%)
Families who listed it at all44

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.6 · 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 Wigan

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolWiganEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
4th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
42.0% 29.8%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
4.6% 3.2%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
12.6% 15.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
4th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 66% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
18.4% 13.1%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
12th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Lower than 21% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
6.2% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
12th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
15.0% 12.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0 2.4 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
Joint 1st lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
0.0% 1.1% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.08% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
11th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 55% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.0 21.5 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 9th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 51% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
10.8 10.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
7th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan).
Higher than 32% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
8.0% 12.7%* 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 RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Sacred Heart RC 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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.

Is Sacred Heart RC Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put Sacred Heart RC Primary School as their first choice for 17 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 16 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.