SchoolScoresSt John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 2 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Flamstead, Birch Green, Skelmersdale, WN8 6PF
01695 721323 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 24 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 | Outstanding |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 7 July 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
25 pupils in this year group.
72% — 12 points above the Lancashire average, and 10 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 72% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 4% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 84% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 88% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 80% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 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 Lancashire. 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 | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 13 |
| Of those, offered a place | 13 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 51 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.9
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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 9th highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 89% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 48.8% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 19th highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 4th highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 97% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 30.0% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 27.4% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 13th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Lower than 4% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.9% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Lower than 8% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 22.7% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 6th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Lower than 60% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Lower than 54% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 17th highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 7% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 14.6 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 19 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 11% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.1 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 16th highest of 18 state primary schools in Skelmersdale. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 12.9%* | 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
- Woodland Community Primary School 0.3 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hillside Community Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 52% met expected standard (KS2)
- Delph Side Community Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 7% met expected standard (KS2)
- Cobbs Brow School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holland Moor Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 74% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Edmund's Catholic Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bishop Martin CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Little Digmoor Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale's Ofsted rating?
St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 24 April 2012. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 7 July 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 10 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put St John's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 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 119586.
- 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.