St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton

Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic

Chapel Lane, Longton, Preston, PR4 5EB

01772 613402 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedGoodInspected 25 February 2014; confirmed 2023
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths73%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 32nd highest of 112 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 72% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils246Room for 245 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 245 in 2019, 243 in 2021, 243 in 2022, 245 in 2023, 246 in 2024, 250 in 2025, 246 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.023 for 23 places, September 2026
Joint 30th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 25 February 2014.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationGood
Outcomes for pupilsGood
Leadership and managementGood

Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 18 May 2023: Ofsted found the school was still Good.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

37 pupils in this year group.

73% — 13 points above the Lancashire average, and 11 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 73% 60% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 27% 7% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 86% 74% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 84% 71% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 84% 74% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 108 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 107 104 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
50% 60% 70% 80% 90% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 77%This school 2023/24: 64%This school 2024/25: 73% This school England 62% 2022/23 77% 2023/24 64% 2024/25 73%

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 offered23
Families who put it first23
Of those, offered a place23 (100%)
Families who listed it at all59

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.1 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
117th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 7% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
6.4% 25.3%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
63rd highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 36% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.4% 3.0%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
112th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 3% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
5.6% 13.7%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 90th highest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 16% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.0% 16.0%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
9th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
3.1% 5.1%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
5th lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Lower than 97% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
2.8% 12.3%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
Joint 1st lowest of 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
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 124 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
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
Joint 16th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 92% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
25.1 21.1 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
5th highest of 123 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 95% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
14.9 10.5 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
9th highest of 107 state primary schools in Preston (Lancashire).
Higher than 92% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
32.7% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton's Ofsted rating?

St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 25 February 2014. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 18 May 2023, Ofsted found the school was still Good.

How did St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points above the England average of 62%.

Is St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 23 families put St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton as their first choice for 23 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 23 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.