SchoolScoresSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Hall Road, Scarisbrick, Ormskirk, L40 9QE
01704 880626 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 3 February 2026 , published 19 April 2026.
In short: 4 expected, 3 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. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.
Lancashire comparisons use the 47 of its 481 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 434 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 19th highest of 47 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 53% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 88% | 83% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 20th highest of 47 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 48% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 89% | 85% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 11th highest of 47 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 71% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 83% | 78% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 13 parents who had raised a concern Joint 16th highest of 47 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 56% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 75% | 74% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 1st highest of 47 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 85% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100%said yes | 86% | 83% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 22%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Lancashire figures pool parents at the Lancashire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
17 pupils in this year group.
53% — 7 points below the Lancashire average, and 9 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 53% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 76% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 65% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 59% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 100 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 6 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 6 |
| Of those, offered a place | 6 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 10 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 40% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.6% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 18th highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 22nd highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 2% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 4.4% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 10th highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 19th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Lower than 15% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.6% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Lower than 12% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 20.9% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 18th highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 5% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 14.0 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 22 state primary schools in Ormskirk. Higher than 10% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 8.0 | 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
- Scarisbrick St Mark's CofE Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Halsall St Cuthbert's CofE Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kew Woods Primary School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ormskirk West End School 2.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2024 · 18% met expected standard (KS2)
- Ormskirk Asmall Primary School 2.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 38% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 3 February 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 4 expected, 3 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 53% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 9 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick?
100% of the 15 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 6 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick as their first choice for 6 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 6 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 119683.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 10 November 2025 to 6 April 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.