St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate

St Thomas Church of England Primary School in Lydiate has received an outstanding rating across all areas in its first inspection since converting to an academy. The school is characterized by a strong commitment to excellence, which is evident in the highly engaging curriculum that supports all students, including those with special educational needs. Pupils display exceptional pride in their school and are extremely well-prepared for their future education, benefitting from an array of opportunities that promote personal development and active citizenship. The school's leadership, supported by the Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, ensures that staff are well-trained and that pupils achieve exceptionally well throughout their learning journey.

Strengths

• Exceptional commitment to excellence in education
• Highly engaging curriculum designed with research-based practices
• Outstanding support for pupils with special educational needs
• Impeccable pupil behavior reflecting school values
• Strong contributions from pupils in leadership roles
• Exemplary personal development programs
• Effective safeguarding arrangements in place

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 Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate attended 97.2% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 2.8% 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 St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate 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 Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate had 23.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 35.7% 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, 9.3% of pupils at St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.7% 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 Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate received £7,722 and spent £7,393 for each of its 239 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £390,000 (-£1,636 per pupil).

Across all 18 schools of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, income was £7,382 and spending £7,357 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.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Liverpool · Sefton local authority: places and applications

St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate is part of Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, which runs 19 schools. The nearest others:

• St Andrews Church of England Primary School, Maghull Liverpool
• Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School Southport
• Rainford CofE Primary School St Helens
• The Beacon Church of England Primary School Liverpool
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School Skelmersdale
• Huyton With Roby Church of England Primary School Liverpool
• Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School, Southport Southport
• Parish Church of England Primary School, St Helens St Helens
• Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School, Woolton Liverpool
• Highfield St Matthew's Church of England Primary School Wigan

What is St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2024.

When was St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate last inspected by Ofsted?

St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate was last inspected in September 2024.

How many pupils does St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate have?

St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate has 236 pupils on roll.

What age range does St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate cover?

St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate for pupils aged 3 to 11.

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

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate?

St Thomas Church of England Primary School, Lydiate is at Kenyons Lane, Lydiate, Liverpool, Merseyside, L31 0BP.