St Thomas CofE Primary School

St Thomas C of E Primary School continues to demonstrate a good standard of education in a nurturing environment. Students show a love for learning, aided by strong relationships with staff who maintain high expectations. The curriculum is ambitious and well-structured, allowing most pupils to achieve well across various subjects, supported by effective phonics and reading programs. Additionally, the school fosters a culture of responsibility and positive behavior among pupils, contributing to their overall happiness and engagement in school life. However, recent changes to some curriculums have introduced gaps in learning, particularly concerning the connections between subjects. Some teachers also struggle to clarify certain challenging vocabulary, leading to occasional misconceptions that hamper pupils' understanding. Attention to these areas will further enhance the quality of education provided at the school, ensuring that all pupils can fully benefit from the school's high ambitions.

Strengths

• Pupils develop a love for learning through engaging and enjoyable lessons.
• Strong relationships between staff and pupils enhance the learning environment.
• The curriculum is ambitious and well-devised, benefiting all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Effective implementation of a structured phonics program supports reading development.
• The school promotes personal development through various extracurricular activities.
• Majority of staff feel valued and proud to be part of the school.

Areas for Improvement

• Recent curriculum changes have created gaps in pupils' knowledge and understanding.
• Teachers occasionally struggle to explain new vocabulary clearly, leading to misconceptions.

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 CofE Primary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.9% 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, 2.7% of pupils at St Thomas CofE 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 CofE Primary School had 21.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 13.8% of pupils at St Thomas CofE Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.2% 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 CofE Primary School received £7,053 and spent £7,772 for each of its 174 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £138,000 (-£792 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).

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What is St Thomas CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Thomas CofE Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2024.

When was St Thomas CofE Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Thomas CofE Primary School was last inspected in July 2024.

How many pupils does St Thomas CofE Primary School have?

St Thomas CofE Primary School has 174 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Thomas CofE Primary School cover?

St Thomas CofE Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St Thomas CofE Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Thomas CofE Primary School?

St Thomas CofE Primary School is at Hodnet Drive, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 8PQ.