SchoolScoresThe Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Roman Catholic
Balmoral Road, Lancaster, LA1 3BT
0152464686 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 May 2016.
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 |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 12 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
62 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Lancaster comparisons use the 14 of its 27 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 13 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 | Lancaster | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 98% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 5th highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 78% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 95% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 18 parents whose child had been bullied 3rd highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 88% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 67% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 47 parents who had raised a concern 1st highest of 13 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 91% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 96% | 88% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 16 parents of children with SEND 1st highest of 3 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 96% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 91% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 3rd highest of 14 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancaster. Higher than 77% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97%said yes | 94% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 31%). 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. Lancaster figures pool parents at the Lancaster 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.
80% — 20 points above the Lancashire average, and 18 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 80% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 93% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 83% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 90% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 109 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 105 | 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 | 18 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 18 |
| Of those, offered a place | 18 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 46 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 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 6th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.7% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 22nd highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 18% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.5% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 26th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 5% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 76% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 28.2% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 21st lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 32% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 5.6% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Lower than 40% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 13.4% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. 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 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. 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 10th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 79% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 23.2 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 13th highest of 27 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 46% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 19 state primary schools in Lancaster. Higher than 81% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 23.5% | 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
- Bowerham Primary and Nursery School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lancaster Christ Church CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lancaster Dallas Road Community Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Castle View Primary Academy 0.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 31% met expected standard (KS2)
- Lancaster Independent School for Alternative Learning (Lisal) 0.9 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Willow Lane Community Primary School 0.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Josephs Catholic Primary School, Lancaster 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2024) · 33% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School, Lancaster 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 79% met expected standard (KS2)
- Scotforth St Paul's CofE Primary and Nursery School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moorside Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 70% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster's Ofsted rating?
The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 May 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 12 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 18 points above the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster?
97% of the 62 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 18 families put The Cathedral Catholic Primary School, Lancaster as their first choice for 18 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 18 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 119621.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 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.