Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington

Christ Church C of E Primary School in Pennington is performing well, classified as 'Good' in all inspected areas. Students enjoy attending school and feel safe, supported by a dedicated staff team that engages actively with parents and fosters a positive learning environment. The curriculum has been enhanced since the last inspection, allowing students to build their knowledge systematically across various subjects, with a strong emphasis on reading and writing. Nevertheless, there are areas identified for improvement, particularly in how some teachers manage student behavior and adapt the curriculum for those with special educational needs.

Strengths

• High expectations set by leaders and staff
• Effective curriculum planning across a broad range of subjects
• Strong commitment to pupil safety and wellbeing
• Engaged and enthusiastic students who enjoy learning
• Positive relationships between students and staff
• Proactive approach to reading with a new library and diverse book selections

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent management of low-level disruption in lessons
• Inadequate adaptation of the curriculum for pupils with SEND in some subjects

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 Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington attended 93.4% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.0% 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, 5.8% of pupils at Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington 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 Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington had 21.4 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, 14.1% of pupils at Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.4% 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 Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington received £8,221 and spent £7,958 for each of its 205 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £202,000 (£984 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 Leigh · Wigan local authority: places and applications

What is Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington is Good, from an inspection in March 2025.

When was Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington last inspected by Ofsted?

Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington was last inspected in March 2025.

How many pupils does Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington have?

Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington has 205 pupils on roll.

What age range does Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington cover?

Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington?

Christ Church CofE Primary School, Pennington is at West Bridgewater Street, Pennington, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 4HB.