SchoolScoresSankey Valley St James CofE Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England · Nursery class
Dorchester Road, Great Sankey, Warrington, WA5 1XE
01925 659307 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 17 March 2011.
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 |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 24 June 2021: 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
37 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Warrington comparisons use the 7 of its 77 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 70 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 | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 3% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 62% | 90% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 4% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 65% | 90% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 4% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 86% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 37 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 6% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 51% | 80% | 74% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 14 parents of children with SEND 4th highest of 4 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 15% of 552 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 50% | 77% | 63% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Warrington. Higher than 4% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 54%said yes | 88% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 17%). 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. Warrington figures pool parents at the Warrington 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
28 pupils in this year group.
75% — 7 points above the Warrington average, and 13 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 75% | 68% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 11% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 86% | 82% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 82% | 77% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 96% | 80% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 107 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 106 | 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 Warrington. 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 offered | 13 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 12 |
| Of those, offered a place | 12 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 26 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 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 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 | Warrington | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 35.2% | 24.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 39th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.7% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 86% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.6% | 13.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 12th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.8% | 16.5%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 59th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 43% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 4.4%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 54th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.9% | 8.8%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 68th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 23% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.6 | 1.1 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 66th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Lower than 30% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 0.5% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 64th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 20% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.6 | 20.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 69th highest of 77 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 17% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.7 | 11.1 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 51st highest of 76 state primary schools in Warrington. Higher than 35% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 11.0%* | 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
- Chapelford Village Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Great Sankey Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 7 strong · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Evelyn Street Primary Academy and Nursery 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 90% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westbrook Old Hall Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 needs attention · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- Warrington St Barnabas CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bewsey Lodge Academy 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2021, before conversion) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Alban's Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 48% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Philip (Westbrook) CofE Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016), confirmed 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 17 March 2011. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 24 June 2021, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 13 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School?
54% of the 37 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 12 families put Sankey Valley St James CofE Primary School as their first choice for 13 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 12 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 133676.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 2026.
- 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.