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St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School

Primary Ages 3-11 118 pupils Warrington
Ofsted: Expected standard
All schools in Warrington

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School is a voluntary aided school in Warrington for pupils aged 3 to 11. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It has 118 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026. In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Ofsted inspection: March 2026. KS2 results: 2025.

Type Primary / Voluntary aided school
Age Range 3-11
Religion Roman Catholic
Address Milnthorpe Road
Chapel Lane
St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School
Warrington
Cheshire
WA5 4PN
Phone 01925224686
Reference Number 111367

General Makeup

Number of pupils 118
Boy/Girl ratio Boys: 55.08%
Girls: 44.92%
Percentage of students eligible for free school meals 27.9%
Percentage of students where English is not their first language 22%

Class Sizes

Average size of one teacher classes 19.7
Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher 15
Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher 16

Year Groups

Year Boys Girls Total
1 3 6 9
2 7 5 12
3 7 8 15
4 14 7 21
5 7 10 17
6 10 6 16

Ethnicities

Ethnicity Percentage
White, British 66.1%
White, Other 13.6%
White & Asian 2.5%
Indian 2.5%
Asian, Other 2.5%
Mixed, Other 1.7%
Pakistani 1.7%
White & Black (Caribbean) 0.8%
Chinese 0.8%
Unclassified 0.8%
White & Black (African) 0.8%
African 0.8%

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School is performing well overall, demonstrating a strong commitment to safeguarding and a nurturing environment that supports pupils' learning and development. The school has established a positive culture where pupils feel safe and valued. Leaders have made significant efforts to improve the curriculum and teaching practices, resulting in generally good progress for pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities and disadvantaged pupils.

Overall Ofsted Rating Expected standard
 >  Leadership & Governance Expected standard
 >  Personal Development & Wellbeing Expected standard
 >  Achievement Expected standard
 >  Attendance & Behaviour Expected standard
 >  Curriculum & Teaching Expected standard
 >  Inclusion Expected standard
 >  Early Years Strong standard
Last Report Date 20 Jan 2026
Date Report
20 Jan 2026 School inspection
07 Jul 2021 School inspection
12 Jul 2016 Full inspection
05 Nov 2014 Monitoring visit
24 Jun 2014 Full inspection
15 Jan 2013 Interim assessment
10 May 2011 Curriculum and development visit
24 Feb 2010 Full inspection
11 Oct 2006 Full inspection
11 Mar 2002 Full inspection

Strengths

  • Strong early years provision that promotes a love of reading.
  • Effective support for disadvantaged children and those with special educational needs.
  • High expectations for pupils' achievement in the curriculum.
  • Positive behaviour and a calm and inviting school environment.
  • Leaders have a clear understanding of the quality of the curriculum and teaching.

Areas for Improvement

  • Some pupils have misconceptions in mathematics that are not fully addressed.
  • In a small number of subjects, the curriculum needs further strengthening.

How many students meet the standards

Reading, Writing & Maths School Score Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Pupils meeting the expected standard 60%
Pupils meeting a higher standard 5%

Average Scaled Score

Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.

Subject School Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Reading 105
Maths 104

Progress Scores

A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.

Metric School Score Percentile (local) Percentile (nationwide)
Reading -1.2
Writing 0.8
Maths -2.1

How many students meet the standards

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Average Scaled Score

Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.

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Progress Scores

A progress score is a way to measure how well a student progressed in comparison to other students of a similar starting ability. A score of zero means would mean that a student made the same progress as others that had a similar starting a ability. A positive score would mean that the student made more progress than other students of similar starting ability. The scores below are for the whole school so is the average progress score across all students.

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Reception admissions, 2026 entry

Number of Applications Number of Offers
First Preference
Second Preference 11 0
Third Preference 1 0
From another Local Authority 4 2

Previous years

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Places and pupil numbers

In 2024–25 St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School had 118 pupils for 150 places. 32 places (21.3%) were unfilled.

Pupils and places

Reception intake in the “Burtonwood&Winwick” planning area

Warrington counted 50 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 52 in 2029–30, up 4%.

201020112012201320142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
Places 210210210210210210210210210210210210210210150
Pupils 189187183190184180183170168156141141136123118
Unfilled 10.0%11.0%12.9%9.5%12.4%14.3%12.9%19.0%20.0%25.7%32.9%32.9%35.2%41.4%21.3%

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 Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School attended 95.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
Authorised absence 3.4%4.0%3.8%3.8%3.5%2.9%3.4%3.8%3.4%3.2%2.8%
Unauthorised absence 0.7%0.8%0.6%0.8%0.9%1.3%0.7%1.2%1.0%1.7%2.2%
Severely absent pupils 0.0%0.0%0.0%0.6%0.6%0.0%0.0%1.5%0.8%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 Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

2010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Suspensions per 100 pupils 0.00.00.00.00.00.50.00.00.00.00.70.00.60.00.00.0
Permanent exclusions 0000000000000000

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 Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School had 19.1 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

2011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Pupils per adult 16.714.814.015.513.513.211.112.010.610.012.212.112.711.712.812.2
Teachers who left state teaching 12.5%2.2%24.2%11.6%22.7%10.5%0.0%0.0%4.5%0.0%12.5%12.5%0.0%0.0%0.0%–
Teachers who took any sick leave 54.5%72.7%40.0%58.3%66.7%45.5%63.6%63.6%33.3%–37.5%62.5%71.4%28.6%33.3%–
Sick days per teacher 8.56.94.13.016.311.32.32.00.8–3.713.32.60.22.5–

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, 16.9% of pupils at St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 5.1% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

SEN support EHC plan
Speech, language and communication needs 8 4
Other difficulty or disability 10 1
Social, emotional and mental health 2 0
Autistic spectrum disorder 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 Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School received £8,601 and spent £7,868 for each of its 115 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £84,000 (£733 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

20192020202120222023202420252026
Revenue reserve £51,000£19,000£26,000£37,000£61,000£68,000£105,000£84,000
per pupil £328£132£169£245£439£549£865£733
In-year balance £16,000-£32,000£7,000£11,000£24,000£6,000£38,000£84,000
per pupil £103-£224£46£74£172£49£309£733

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
Burtonwood Community Primary School
Green Lane, Burtonwood, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 4AQ
0.36 miles
Wargrave CofE Primary School
Bradlegh Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 8QL
1.49 miles
The District CofE Primary School
Patterson Street, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9PZ
1.76 miles
Barrow Hall Community Primary School
Sophia Drive, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 3TX
1.77 miles
Lyme Community Primary School
Lyme Street, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9HD
1.82 miles
St Philip (Westbrook) CofE Primary School
Westbrook Centre, Westbrook, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 8UE
1.84 miles
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School
Brunswick Street, Parr, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 2JE
1.87 miles
St Mary's Catholic Junior Academy
Barn Way, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9QQ
1.88 miles
Broad Oak Community Primary School
Brunswick Street, Parr, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 2JE
1.98 miles
Sutton Oak CofE Primary School
Goodban Street, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3QD
1.99 miles
St Mary's Catholic Infant Academy
Victoria Road, Newton-le-Willows, St Helens, Merseyside, WA12 9RX
2.04 miles
Newton-le-Willows Primary School
Sanderling Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9UF
2.07 miles
St Anne's Catholic Primary School
Monastery Lane, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3SP
2.09 miles
Callands Primary Academy
Callands Road, Callands, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 9RJ
2.1 miles
Grange Valley Primary School
Heyes Avenue, Haydock, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 0XQ
2.3 miles
St Peter's CofE Primary School
Birley Street, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 9UR
2.41 miles
Willow Tree Primary School
Willow Tree Avenue, Leach Lane, Sutton Leach, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 4LZ
2.43 miles
Chapelford Village Primary School
Santa Rosa Boulevard, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 3AL
2.46 miles
Westbrook Old Hall Primary School
Old Hall Road, Old Hall, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 9QA
2.46 miles
Park Road Community Primary School
Wroxham Road, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 3EF
2.5 miles
Name Distance
Willow Bank School
Winwick Road, St Helens, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 8DE
1.32 miles
Wargrave House School
449 Wargrave Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 8RS
1.55 miles
St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy
Berrys Lane, Sutton, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 3HE
2 miles
Great Sankey High School
Barrow Hall Lane, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 3AA
2.1 miles
Lansbury Bridge School
Lansbury Avenue, Parr, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 1TB
2.26 miles
Mill Green School
Lansbury Avenue, Parr, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 1BU
2.33 miles
Hope Academy
Ashton Road, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, WA12 0AQ
2.55 miles
Outwood Academy Haydock
Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA11 0JG
2.6 miles
St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy
Boardmans Lane, Blackbrook, St. Helens, Merseyside, WA11 9BB
2.83 miles
Ash Meadow School
Jubits Lane, St Helens, WA9 4RT
2.91 miles
Penketh High School
Heath Road, Penketh, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 2BY
2.95 miles
The Sutton Academy
Elton Head Road, St Helens, Merseyside, WA9 5AU
3.04 miles
Warrington and Vale Royal College
Winwick Road, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 8QA
3.08 miles
St Gregory's Catholic High School
Cromwell Avenue, Great Sankey, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 1HG
3.12 miles
Beamont Collegiate Academy
Long Lane, Orford, Warrington, Cheshire, WA2 8PX
3.31 miles
Aldridge UTC Warrington
Owen Street, Warrington, WA2 7PA
3.34 miles
The Empower Academy
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Mike Gregory Way, Warrington, WA2 7NE
3.54 miles
The Byrchall High School
Warrington Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9PQ
3.59 miles
St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield
Rookery Avenue, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 9PF
3.67 miles
This Is My Education - TIME
Logic House, Central Street, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 1UD
3.73 miles

All schools in Warrington · Warrington local authority: places and applications

What is St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School is Expected standard, from an inspection in March 2026.

When was St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School was last inspected in March 2026.

How many pupils does St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School have?

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School has 118 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School cover?

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School?

St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School is at Milnthorpe Road, Chapel Lane, St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School, Warrington, Cheshire, WA5 4PN.

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