St Bede's Catholic Junior School

St Bede’s Catholic Junior School is performing well overall, having been rated 'Good' in its recent inspection. The school has not undergone an inspection for over 12 years, and this newer judgement reflects some changes in school effectiveness. Despite the downgrade from its previous 'Outstanding' rating in 2007, leaders maintain high expectations, and the student body exhibits a strong eagerness to learn and engages positively with their education. The school's efforts in personal development are particularly noteworthy, with students becoming confident and respectful citizens who contribute meaningfully to their community.

Strengths

• Leaders have high expectations of all pupils
• Pupils achieve well in many subjects, including reading, writing, and mathematics
• Strong provision for personal development, fostering confidence and respect
• Effective safeguarding arrangements in place
• Pupils participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities

Areas for Improvement

• Curriculum planning in some subjects is less well developed
• Some less-able younger pupils struggle with phonics and letter sounds

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 Bede's Catholic Junior School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.4% 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, 0.3% of pupils at St Bede's Catholic Junior 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 Bede's Catholic Junior School had 20.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 14.0% 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, 22.9% of pupils at St Bede's Catholic Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.3% 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 Bede's Catholic Junior School received £6,683 and spent £6,645 for each of its 306 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £187,000 (£612 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 Widnes · Halton local authority: places and applications

What is St Bede's Catholic Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Bede's Catholic Junior School is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was St Bede's Catholic Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

St Bede's Catholic Junior School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does St Bede's Catholic Junior School have?

St Bede's Catholic Junior School has 306 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Bede's Catholic Junior School cover?

St Bede's Catholic Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are St Bede's Catholic Junior School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Bede's Catholic Junior School?

St Bede's Catholic Junior School is at Appleton Village, St Bede's Junior School, Widnes, Cheshire, WA8 6EL.