St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram

St John’s Church of England Primary School in Abram continues to demonstrate strong performance, maintaining its status as a good school since its last inspection in 2017. The school fosters a nurturing and stimulating environment, where high expectations for pupil achievement, particularly for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), are evident. Pupils express pride in their school and benefit from an ambitious curriculum that engages them in their learning, promoting both academic success and personal growth. While the school has notable strengths, such as effective reading instruction and supportive teacher-student relationships, it faces challenges with its recently introduced curriculum. Some pupils have not had enough opportunities to reinforce their learning, which impacts their ability to make connections across subjects. Additionally, in a few subjects, there are instances where teaching activities do not fully meet the intended learning objectives, indicating a need for further development in certain areas.

Strengths

• Deep commitment to pupil achievement by staff and leaders
• Nurturing and welcoming school environment
• Ambitious curriculum that excites pupils
• Effective support for pupils with SEND leading to strong outcomes
• Strong focus on reading with a literature-rich environment
• Positive attitudes towards learning and good behaviour among pupils
• Strong leadership with effective communication and team spirit

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils have not had enough opportunities to revisit learning
• Teaching activities in a few subjects do not fully promote intended learning

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 John's Church of England Primary School, Abram attended 94.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 13.9% 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, 1.8% of pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram 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 John's Church of England Primary School, Abram had 18.8 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 55.6% 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, 21.5% of pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 4.7% 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 2024–25 St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram received £7,091 and spent £7,561 for each of its 278 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £258,000 (£927 per pupil).

Across all 5 schools of Quest (A Church of England Schools Trust), income was £8,247 and spending £8,209 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

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• Secondary Schools

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

St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram is part of Quest (A Church of England Schools Trust), which runs 5 schools. The nearest others:

• St Peter's Church of England Primary School, Hindley Wigan
• St John's Church of England Primary School, Hindley Green Wigan
• Hindley Green Community Primary School Wigan
• University Collegiate School Bolton

What is St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram is Good, from an inspection in May 2023.

When was St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram last inspected by Ofsted?

St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram was last inspected in May 2023.

How many pupils does St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram have?

St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram has 274 pupils on roll.

What age range does St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram cover?

St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 51% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram?

St John's Church of England Primary School, Abram is at Simpkin Street, Abram, Wigan, Lancashire, WN2 5QE.