SchoolScoresSt Bede's Catholic Infant School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 5 to 7 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Leigh Avenue, Widnes, WA8 6EL
0151 424 3112 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at the inspection that started on 24 October 2023.
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 | Outstanding |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
54 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Widnes comparisons use the 13 of its 20 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 7 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 | Widnes | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 5th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 6th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 2nd highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 83% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 93% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 12 parents whose child had been bullied 5th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 57% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 58% | 51% | 49% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 24 parents who had raised a concern 5th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 79% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 83% | 75% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 72% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96%said yes | 90% | 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. Widnes figures pool parents at the Widnes 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
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Halton. 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 | 59 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 58 |
| Of those, offered a place | 58 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 143 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 15th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 51% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 22.1% | 38.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 4th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 79% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 4.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 18.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 14th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.1% | 6.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 60% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 10.2% | 14.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 12th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 30% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.9 | 18.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 68% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.8 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 15th highest of 19 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 11.7%* | 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
- St Bede's Catholic Junior School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), improved significantly 2025 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kingsway Primary Academy School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Fairfield Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ditton Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John Fisher Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Farnworth CofE Controlled Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lunts Heath Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moorfield Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 94% met expected standard (KS2)
- Widnes Academy 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Bede's Catholic Infant School's Ofsted rating?
St Bede's Catholic Infant School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 October 2023.
Would parents recommend St Bede's Catholic Infant School?
96% of the 54 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend St Bede's Catholic Infant School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Bede's Catholic Infant School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 58 families put St Bede's Catholic Infant School as their first choice for 59 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 58 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 111372.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.