Sacred Heart RC Primary School

Sacred Heart RC Primary School is a smaller-than-average Catholic primary where pupils generally achieve at the expected standard and feel safe. Inspectors found the school is fulfilling expected standards in achievement, curriculum and teaching, early years, inclusion, and personal development and wellbeing, and safeguarding standards are met. Pupils leave Year 6 attaining broadly in line with national averages in reading, writing and mathematics despite a high proportion joining from other schools, and pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils and those with English as an additional language are well supported. Early years and inclusion are particular strengths, and leaders have made effective improvements to the curriculum. Two areas need attention. Attendance and behaviour is graded needs attention because, although attendance is improving and persistent absence is declining, bullying is not always handled well enough, some pupils say it continues, and some staff do not apply the behaviour policy consistently or model calm, fair behaviour. Leadership and governance also needs attention because leaders have not ensured consistent implementation of the behaviour policy, and their systems do not always identify and tackle bullying. These issues sometimes leave pupils feeling frustrated. Notable context includes significant staffing and governance changes since the last inspection, with several new teachers, teaching assistants and governors. Leaders otherwise have a detailed understanding of provision, have prioritised improvement well, and governors are effective. Teachers still do not consistently provide enough opportunities for pupils to deepen their understanding, and not as many pupils as possible reach the highest standards.

Strengths

• Pupils build strong foundations in reading, writing and mathematics, with gaps addressed effectively.
• All pupils, including those with SEND, progress well through the curriculum.
• Pupils attain broadly in line with national averages by the end of Year 6 despite high mobility.
• Pupils with English as an additional language keep pace with peers.
• Curriculum improvements are taking effect, with more effective revision of prior learning.
• Teachers deliver the curriculum consistently well, especially in English and mathematics.
• Phonics is taught precisely and children build secure phonics knowledge.
• Early years provides a nurturing, well-sequenced start with strong parent partnerships.
• Inclusion is effective: needs are identified early and targeted support helps disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
• Pupil-premium funding is used effectively to support disadvantaged pupils.
• The personal development curriculum builds understanding of equality, British values, relationships, health and online safety.
• Pupils are well supported with wellbeing and become responsible, confident members of the school community.
• Attendance is a clear priority, with improving rates and declining persistent absence.
• Leaders have a detailed understanding of provision and have prioritised appropriate improvements.
• Governors understand the school context and question leaders well, and staff value professional development.
• Enrichment activities and community engagement broaden pupils' experiences.

Areas for Improvement

• Incidents of bullying are not dealt with well enough, and some pupils report that bullying continues.
• Leaders' systems do not enable them to identify and tackle some instances of bullying.
• Some staff do not apply the behaviour policy consistently well.
• Some staff do not model expected behaviour or deal with issues in a calm manner, leaving pupils frustrated.
• Low-level behaviour is not always managed calmly, fairly and consistently.
• Teachers do not provide enough opportunities for pupils to deepen their understanding of key knowledge across the curriculum.
• Not enough pupils achieve the highest standards.
• Overall absence remains above national averages, although persistent absence is declining and attendance is improving.

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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School attended 93.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 15.0% 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 Sacred Heart RC 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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School had 21.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.0% 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, 12.4% of pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.5% 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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School received £7,563 and spent £7,871 for each of its 178 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £271,000 (£1,520 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 Manchester (Wigan) · Wigan local authority: places and applications

What is Sacred Heart RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sacred Heart RC Primary School is Needs attention, from an inspection in July 2026.

When was Sacred Heart RC Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sacred Heart RC Primary School was last inspected in July 2026.

How many pupils does Sacred Heart RC Primary School have?

Sacred Heart RC Primary School has 178 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sacred Heart RC Primary School cover?

Sacred Heart RC Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Sacred Heart RC Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Sacred Heart RC Primary School?

Sacred Heart RC Primary School is at Lodge Lane, Hindsford, Atherton, Manchester, M46 9BN.