SchoolScoresSt John Vianney Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Elton Head Road, Sutton Heath, St Helens, WA9 5BT
01744 678570 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 May 2026 , published 18 June 2026.
In short: 6 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
80% — 18 points above the St. Helens average, and 18 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 80% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 10% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 83% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 100% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 St. Helens. 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 29 |
| Of those, offered a place | 26 (90%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 66 |
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 | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 24th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 58% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.4% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 27th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 50% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 19th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.4% | 16.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 19th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 7.5% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 21st lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 45% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.2% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 24th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 39% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.6% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 74% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 22.7 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 27th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 30% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 9.6 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 32nd highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 29% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 7.0% | 14.2%* | 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
- Nutgrove Methodist Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Thatto Heath Community Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Austin's Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longton Lane Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2024 · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eaves Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Ann's CofE Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sherdley Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2023 · 54% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sutton Manor Community Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 47% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Theresa's Catholic Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Oakdene Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John Vianney Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John Vianney Catholic Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 May 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 6 expected, 1 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did St John Vianney Catholic Primary School 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 John Vianney Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 29 families put St John Vianney Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 26 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 104812.
- 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.