SchoolScoresSt Bede's Catholic Junior School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 7 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Appleton Village, St Bede's Junior School, Widnes, WA8 6EL
0151 424 3386 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 February 2020.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
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 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
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 9th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 68% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 98% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 12th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 93% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 23 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 42% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 52% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 44 parents who had raised a concern Joint 10th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 27% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 83% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 13th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Widnes. Higher than 17% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78%said yes | 90% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 18%). 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
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
77 pupils in this year group.
62% — about the same as the Halton average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Halton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 19% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 71% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 77% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 Halton. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
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 13th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 30.9% | 38.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 4.4%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 72% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.9% | 18.6%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 16th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.9% | 6.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 4th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 69% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 5.5%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 5th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 65% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 9.3% | 14.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 10th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 66% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 10th lowest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Lower than 64% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 8th highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 51% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.7 | 18.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 2nd highest of 20 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 90% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 13.7 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 19 state primary schools in Widnes. Higher than 55% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.0% | 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 Infant School 0.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023)
- 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 0.9 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 Junior School's Ofsted rating?
St Bede's Catholic Junior School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 February 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had improved significantly.
How did St Bede's Catholic Junior School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Bede's Catholic Junior School?
78% of the 54 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Bede's Catholic Junior School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 111371.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
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Page updated 26 September 2026.