St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is performing at a good level overall, as reflected in its recent Ofsted inspection. Having not been inspected for over 10 years, the school has seen changes that are acknowledged in the current judgment. The pupils show enthusiasm for learning, supported by high expectations from both leaders and staff. The positive atmosphere in the school promotes strong relationships among pupils and staff, contributing to a generally peaceful school environment where pupils feel safe and supported.

Strengths

• Pupils are enthusiastic learners who enjoy a wide range of activities.
• Behaviour in classrooms is generally good, allowing for focused teaching.
• Leaders and staff promote inclusivity for SEND and disadvantaged pupils.
• High expectations from leaders lead to strong achievement in reading and mathematics.
• Pupils develop positive relationships and a sense of community within the school.

Areas for Improvement

• Some staff lack knowledge in teaching early reading and phonics.
• Curriculum planning in some subjects is inconsistent and lacks detail.
• Leaders need to ensure all subjects are planned with equal care and detail.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School attended 96.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 6.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.0% of pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School had 20.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 10.4% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 13.5% of pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School received £7,138 and spent £6,943 for each of its 207 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £104,000 (£502 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in St Helens · St. Helens local authority: places and applications

What is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is Good, from an inspection in October 2024.

When was St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School was last inspected in October 2024.

How many pupils does St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School have?

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School has 207 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School cover?

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 77% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?

St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is at Rainford Road, Windle, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 6BX.