SchoolScoresSt John's CofE Primary School
Voluntary controlled school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Rufford Road, Crossens, Southport, PR9 8JH
01704 227441 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 9 June 2026 , published 14 July 2026.
In short: 3 expected, 4 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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
26 pupils in this year group.
62% — 4 points above the Sefton average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 62% | 58% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 8% | 5% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 73% | 69% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 73% | 72% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 107 | 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 Sefton. 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 | 19 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 17 |
| Of those, offered a place | 17 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 43 |
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 Church of England school, but as a voluntary controlled school its admissions are set by the council, which usually doesn't prioritise by faith. Check the council's admissions criteria.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Sefton | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 5th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 68% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.3% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.0% | 4.3%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 84% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 21.1% | 16.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 18th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 22% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.0% | 8.6%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 49% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.0% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 13th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 48% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.1% | 13.4%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 15th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 47% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Lower than 52% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.6% | 0.7% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 18th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 13% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.5 | 20.9 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 15% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.5 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 8th highest of 21 state primary schools in Southport. Higher than 47% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 11.6% | 11.3%* | 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
- Larkfield Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Marshside Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Churchtown Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Patrick's Catholic Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Banks St Stephen's CofE School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Banks Methodist School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 needs attention · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bishop David Sheppard CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 42% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Family Catholic Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 43% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norwood Primary School 2.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2017), confirmed 2022 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Southport 2.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St John's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St John's CofE Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 9 June 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 3 expected, 4 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did St John's CofE Primary 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%.
Is St John's CofE Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 17 families put St John's CofE Primary School as their first choice for 19 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 104894.
- 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.