SchoolScoresSt James' Catholic Primary School Orrell
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
St James Road, Orrell, Wigan, WN5 7AA
01942 748455 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 19 April 2012.
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 |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 17 February 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
80% — 14 points above the Wigan average, and 18 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 80% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 20% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 87% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 88% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 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 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 1 first-choice applications for every place.
| Places offered | 46 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 54 |
| Of those, offered a place | 46 (85%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 113 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.2
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 | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 59th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 21% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 29.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 63rd highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 43rd highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.7% | 15.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 59th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 24% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 13.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 7th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.4% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 11th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 91% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.9% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 67% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 21st lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 65% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 26th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 64% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.8 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 14th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 79% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.6 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 44th highest of 66 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 24% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 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
- Orrell Newfold Community Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 93% met expected standard (KS2)
- Orrell Holgate Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2011, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 · 86% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided CofE Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- St John's CofE Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Crawford Village Primary School 1.6 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2016), confirmed 2022 · 92% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moorside Community Primary Academy School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holland Moor Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Highfield St Matthew's CofE Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell's Ofsted rating?
St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 19 April 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 17 February 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 18 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 54 families put St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell as their first choice for 46 places: about 1 first-choice applications for every place. 46 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 106492.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 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.