SchoolScoresSt Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Catholic
Flapper Fold Lane, Atherton, Manchester, M46 0HA
01942 882980 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 28 April 2026 , published 21 June 2026.
In short: 1 expected, 6 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. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| 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
24 pupils in this year group.
54% — 12 points below the Wigan average, and 8 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 54% | 66% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 13% | 10% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 54% | 77% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 71% | 74% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 75% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 101 | 106 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 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 Wigan. 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 | 16 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 11 |
| Of those, offered a place | 11 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 36 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.7
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 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 | Wigan | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 37.5% | 29.8%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 8th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.7% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 23.9% | 15.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 2nd highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 74% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 25.5% | 13.1%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 3rd lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Lower than 80% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.0% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Lower than 54% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.1% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 13th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Lower than 21% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.8 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 14th lowest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.3% | 1.1% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded1 pupil | 0.54% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 95% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.3 | 21.5 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 65% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.6 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 14 state primary schools in Manchester (Wigan). Higher than 56% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.3% | 12.7%* | 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
- Meadowbank Primary School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
- Atherton St George's CofE Primary School 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Philip's CofE Primary School, Atherton 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chowbent Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 36% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parklee Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Michael's CofE Primary School, Howe Bridge 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Sacred Heart RC Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
- Hindsford CofE Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- St James CofE Primary School, Daisy Hill 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Woodland Primary Academy 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020, before conversion) · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton's Ofsted rating?
St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 28 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 expected, 6 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 54% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 8 points below the England average of 62%.
Is St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 11 families put St Richard's Roman Catholic Primary School Atherton as their first choice for 16 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 11 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 106498.
- 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.