SchoolScoresSt Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School
Academy · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Part of HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC MULTI ACADEMY TRUST
Sherbourne Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 5EW
0151 355 2047 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 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 | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Ellesmere Port comparisons use the 10 of its 21 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 11 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 | Ellesmere Port | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 7th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 39% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 10th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 12% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 75% | 94% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 10 parents who had raised a concern 6th highest of 9 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 39% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 80% | 85% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 10 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 38% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 7%). 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. Ellesmere Port figures pool parents at the Ellesmere Port 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
23 pupils in this year group.
61% — about the same as the Cheshire West and Chester average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 61% | 61% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 6% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 78% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 70% | 72% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 78% | 74% | 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 |
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 Cheshire West and Chester. 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 fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 22 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 17 |
| Of those, offered a place | 17 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 35 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.8
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 | Cheshire West and Chester | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.5% | 20.2%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 20th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 25% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.9% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 11th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 54% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 14.9% | 13.9%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 5th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 65% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.7% | 9.2%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 10th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 42% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.3% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 35% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 14.4% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 63% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Lower than 59% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 14th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 27% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 18.5 | 19.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 11th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 39% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.1 | 10.6 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 16th highest of 21 state primary schools in Ellesmere Port. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 9.9%* | 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
- Wolverham Primary and Nursery School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 strong, 3 expected · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Oaks Community Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cambridge Road Community Primary and Nursery School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitby Heath Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ellesmere Port Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 41% met expected standard (KS2)
- William Stockton Community Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westminster Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodlands Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- The Acorns Primary and Nursery School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 February 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery 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%.
Would parents recommend St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School?
88% of the 16 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put St Bernard's Roman Catholic Primary and Nursery School as their first choice for 22 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 17 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 140896.
- 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.