SchoolScoresSt Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic · Nursery class
Rainford Road, Windle, St Helens, WA10 6BX
01744 621380 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 3 March 2020.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 17 July 2024: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
78 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
St Helens comparisons use the 17 of its 38 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 21 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 | St Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 7th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 54% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 92% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 5th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 92% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 5th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 62% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 87% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 17 parents whose child had been bullied 4th highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 60% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 46% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 48 parents who had raised a concern Joint 1st highest of 16 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 91% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 79% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 5th highest of 17 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in St Helens. Higher than 67% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 95%said yes | 87% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. 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. St Helens figures pool parents at the St Helens 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. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
30 pupils in this year group.
77% — 15 points above the St. Helens average, and 15 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 77% | 62% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 30% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 90% | 75% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 75% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 73% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 110 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 108 | 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 St. Helens. 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 | 30 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 32 |
| Of those, offered a place | 29 (91%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 86 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.1
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 | St. Helens | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 35th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 20% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 10.9% | 30.4%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 38th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 4% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 0.5% | 3.9%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 26th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 43% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 13.3% | 16.3%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 35th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 12% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 7.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 2nd lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 92% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 4th lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 85% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.0% | 12.7%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 19th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 49% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.5 | 20.7 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 40% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.2 | 9.8 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 24th highest of 38 state primary schools in St Helens. Higher than 42% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 10.4% | 14.2%* | 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
- Bleak Hill Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Rivington Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 59% met expected standard (KS2)
- Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Devon Street 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 3 expected, 4 needs attention · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Mary and St Thomas CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2025 · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Julie's Catholic Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 77% met expected standard (KS2)
- Eccleston Mere Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 strong, 6 expected · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Parish CofE Primary School, St Helens 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Cross Catholic Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 4 expected, 3 needs attention · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 61% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 3 March 2020. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 17 July 2024, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 15 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
95% of the 78 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 32 families put St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School as their first choice for 30 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 29 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 104809.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- 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.