St John's Catholic Infant School
St John's Catholic Infant School is a voluntary aided school in Wirral for pupils aged 3 to 7. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It has 189 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for St John's Catholic Infant School is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.
Ofsted inspection: January 2024.
| Type | Primary / Voluntary aided school |
| Age Range | 3-7 |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Old Chester Road Bebington Wirral Merseyside CH63 7LH |
| Reference Number | 105082 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 189 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 45.5%
Girls: 54.5% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 23.8% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 3.2% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 28.5 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 27 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 | 33 | 60 |
| 2 | 29 | 29 | 58 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 89.9% |
| African | 2.6% |
| White, Other | 1.6% |
| White & Asian | 1.6% |
| Indian | 1.1% |
| Unclassified | 1.1% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.5% |
| Asian, Other | 0.5% |
St John’s Catholic Infant School is performing well overall, having been rated as 'Good' in its recent inspection. The school has managed to maintain a broad and balanced curriculum since its last inspection 15 years ago, reflecting high expectations for pupil achievement, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Children and pupils enjoy attending and demonstrate exemplary behaviours, contributing to a positive learning environment. The school also effectively promotes pupils' personal development through various extracurricular activities and community engagements.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Outstanding |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| > Early Years Provision | Good |
| Last Report Date | 28 Nov 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 28 Nov 2023 | School inspection: |
| 07 Jan 2011 | Interim assessment |
| 25 Feb 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 07 Mar 2005 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Exceptional pupil behaviour and attitudes towards learning.
- Strong emphasis on personal development and well-being.
- Well-designed curriculum that builds on pupils' prior knowledge.
- Effective support for pupils with SEND.
- High engagement and enjoyment of learning evident among pupils.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent design of learning activities affecting depth of learning.
- Some pupils receiving SEND support not recorded on the SEND register.
Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 20 | 2 |
| Third Preference | 21 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 0 | 0 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 St John's Catholic Infant School had 177 pupils for 180 places. 3 places (1.7%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Bebington Primary” planning area
Wirral counted 326 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 291 in 2029–30, down 11%.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Places | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 | 180 |
| Pupils | 190 | 190 | 190 | 182 | 181 | 180 | 179 | 179 | 180 | 182 | 183 | 182 | 180 | 173 | 177 |
| Unfilled | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.9% | 1.7% |
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 John's Catholic Infant School attended 95.3% 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
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 3.2% | 4.8% | 4.0% | 2.3% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.2% | 3.4% |
| Unauthorised absence | 0.5% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.2% | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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 John's Catholic Infant School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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 John's Catholic Infant School had 22.9 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 14.2 | 11.8 | 11.6 | 12.1 | 14.4 | 17.5 | 17.3 | 13.7 | 15.0 | 13.4 | 11.4 | 14.6 | 14.3 | 14.6 | 13.2 | 15.7 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 0.0% | 12.4% | 0.0% | 12.0% | 19.5% | 6.1% | 13.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 11.5% | 0.0% | 11.6% | 0.0% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 70.0% | 50.0% | 30.0% | 80.0% | 40.0% | 11.1% | 50.0% | 62.5% | 50.0% | – | 27.3% | 90.0% | 40.0% | 50.0% | 20.0% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 4.7 | 0.1 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1.5 | – | 0.5 | 5.3 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 0.2 | – |
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, 4.2% of pupils at St John's Catholic Infant School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Social, emotional and mental health | 2 | 2 |
| Speech, language and communication needs | 4 | 0 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 0 | 2 |
| No specialist assessment of need | 2 | 0 |
| Physical disability | 0 | 1 |
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 John's Catholic Infant School received £8,038 and spent £7,966 for each of its 181 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £118,000 (£654 per pupil).
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £74,000 | £36,000 | £75,000 | £125,000 | £111,000 | £77,000 | £105,000 | £118,000 |
| per pupil | £360 | £175 | £367 | £575 | £523 | £372 | £532 | £654 |
| In-year balance | -£11,000 | -£38,000 | £39,000 | £49,000 | -£13,000 | -£34,000 | £28,000 | £13,000 |
| per pupil | -£54 | -£186 | £191 | £228 | -£63 | -£164 | £141 | £72 |
Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).
| Name | Distance |
|
St John's Catholic Junior School
Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LH |
0.04 miles |
|
St Andrew's CofE Primary School
Townfield Lane, Bebington, WIRRAL, Merseyside, CH63 7NL |
0.28 miles |
|
Grove Street Primary School
Grove Street Primary School, Grove Street, New Ferry, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 5BA |
0.34 miles |
|
St Anne's Catholic Primary School
Highfield South, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 4NE |
0.46 miles |
|
Town Lane Infant School
Town Lane, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 8LD |
0.59 miles |
|
Church Drive Primary School
Church Drive, Port Sunlight, Wirral, Merseyside, CH62 5EF |
0.64 miles |
|
Brackenwood Infant School
Pulford Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2HN |
0.65 miles |
|
Brackenwood Junior School
Norbury Avenue, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2HH |
0.76 miles |
|
Bedford Drive Primary School
Bedford Drive, Rock Ferry, Bedford Drive Primary, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 6RT |
0.91 miles |
|
Higher Bebington Junior School
Mill Road, Higher Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 8QE |
0.93 miles |
|
Rock Ferry Primary School
Ionic Street, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 2BL |
0.97 miles |
|
Stanton Road Primary School
Stanton Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3HW |
1.09 miles |
|
Well Lane Primary School
Park Road, Tranmere, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 5PF |
1.15 miles |
|
Mersey Park Primary School
Elm Road, Higher Tranmere, Wirral, Merseyside, CH42 0PH |
1.42 miles |
|
Devonshire Park Primary School
Temple Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 9JX |
1.46 miles |
|
Poulton Lancelyn Primary School
Venables Drive, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 9LY |
1.6 miles |
|
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Birkenhead
Woodchurch Road, Oxton, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 5UT |
1.7 miles |
|
Woodchurch Road Academy
99 Woodchurch Road, Oxton, Woodchurch Road Academy, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 9LJ |
1.79 miles |
|
Prenton Primary School
Bramwell Avenue, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 0RQ |
1.86 miles |
|
Woodlands Primary School
Hollybank Road, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 2SY |
1.97 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
St John Plessington Catholic College
Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LF |
0.08 miles |
|
Co-op Academy Bebington
Higher Bebington Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 2PS |
0.55 miles |
|
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Heath Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3AF |
0.83 miles |
|
Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Cross Lane, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 3AQ |
0.84 miles |
|
Prenton High School for Girls
Hesketh Avenue, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 6RR |
0.93 miles |
|
Utopia
The Vikes, 40 Thorsway, Rock Ferry, Merseyside, CH42 1NW |
1.02 miles |
|
Horizons Independent School
60 Mendip Road, Birkenhead, Cheshire, CH42 8NU |
1.31 miles |
|
Progress Schools - Wirral
The Hive, Bright Street, Wirral, CH41 4EA |
2.32 miles |
|
Progress Schools - Hamilton Square
60 Hamilton Square, Wirral, CH41 5AT |
2.34 miles |
|
Wirral Metropolitan College
Conway Park Campus, Conway Park, Europa Boulevard, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH41 4NT |
2.36 miles |
|
King's Leadership Academy, Liverpool
Dingle Vale, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 9SJ |
2.43 miles |
|
Birkenhead Park School
Park Road South, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH43 4UY |
2.54 miles |
|
Birkenhead School
58 Beresford Road, Prenton, CH43 2JD |
2.57 miles |
|
Birkenhead High School Academy
86 Devonshire Place, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 1TY |
2.58 miles |
|
St Anselm's College
Manor Hill, Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 1UQ |
2.66 miles |
|
IMPACT Northwest Schools
Unit 1-4 Tower House, Tower Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1FF |
2.69 miles |
|
Liverpool Life Sciences UTC
41 Greenland Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 0BS |
2.69 miles |
|
The Studio School Liverpool
41 Greenland Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 0BS |
2.69 miles |
|
The Belvedere Academy
17 Belvidere Road, Princes Park, Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 3TF |
2.73 miles |
|
Progress Schools - Liverpool
19 Back Canning Street, Liverpool, L8 7PB |
2.8 miles |
All schools in Wirral · Wirral local authority: places and applications
What is St John's Catholic Infant School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for St John's Catholic Infant School is Good, from an inspection in January 2024.
When was St John's Catholic Infant School last inspected by Ofsted?
St John's Catholic Infant School was last inspected in January 2024.
How many pupils does St John's Catholic Infant School have?
St John's Catholic Infant School has 189 pupils on roll.
What age range does St John's Catholic Infant School cover?
St John's Catholic Infant School for pupils aged 3 to 7.
Where is St John's Catholic Infant School?
St John's Catholic Infant School is at Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, CH63 7LH.