SchoolScoresSt Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Mossy Lea Road, Wrightington, Wigan, WN6 9RE
01257 423092 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 19 May 2026 , published 29 June 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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. | 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
17 pupils in this year group.
65% — 5 points above the Lancashire average, and 3 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 65% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 18% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 65% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 76% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 76% | 74% | 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 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 | 31 |
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 66th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 96% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 8.9% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 51st highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 29% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 11.4% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 52nd highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.1% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 51st lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 27% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.9% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 40th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.3% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 39th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 46% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 55th lowest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Lower than 32% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 1.27% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher Joint 67th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 11% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.0 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 18th highest of 70 state primary schools in Wigan. Higher than 74% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.2 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- Wrightington Mossy Lea Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), improved significantly 2025
- Shevington Vale Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Coppull St John's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Marie's Catholic Primary School Standish 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 91% met expected standard (KS2)
- Appley Bridge All Saints CofE Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wood Fold Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 78% met expected standard (KS2)
- Millbrook Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Standish St Wilfrid's CofE Primary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 strong, 2 expected · 84% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Coppull 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington's Ofsted rating?
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 19 May 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 Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 65% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 3 points above the England average of 62%.
Is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington 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 119696.
- 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.