Schools by area › Lancashire › St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Primary · Mixed · Ages 2–11 · Voluntary aided
Ashurst Road, Ashurst, Skelmersdale WN8 6TN · st-james-pri.lancs.sch.uk · 01695 728989
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 78%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Lancashire 60%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 1.3
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 229
- 19 over 210 places · 109%
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 16.6%
- First language not English
- 12.2%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 38 families put the school first and 29 places were offered; 76% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 29 | 38 | 1.3▲ | 76% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 30 | 31 | 1▲ | 97% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 30 | 29 | 1 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 9% the higher standard. Across Lancashire it was 60%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲78% | 62% | ||
| ●9% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●105 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●105 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 22 February 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 22 Feb 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Jun 2013
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jun 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Nov 2008Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
96% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (72 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 96%
- Replies
- 72
- 33% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 69% who raised concerns
based on the 21% who had a child bullied
based on 17 parents (24%) with SEND