Bleak Hill Primary School

About Bleak Hill Primary School

Bleak Hill Primary School is a state primary for mixed genders aged 4 to 11, located in the St. Helens borough. With 581 pupils on roll against a capacity of 615, the school is operating close to full but retains some physical slack. Its percentage of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 7.7%, notably lower than the national average for state primaries, suggesting a relatively affluent intake profile. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 167 total applications for 89 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.88. Of those, 85 were first-preference applications, and 85 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who placed it first received a place. This combination of high demand and full first-preference satisfaction points to a school that is popular but not impossibly selective in its catchment.

Academically, Bleak Hill performs well above local and national benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a local authority average of 61%. The school ranks 12th out of 47 primary schools in St. Helens, placing it in the top 25% of the LA, and 11th when ranked by its overall score. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in April 2024, awarded Outstanding across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a repeat of the Outstanding rating it held in its previous inspection in 2006. Average scores in reading (108) and maths (105) are solid, with 43% of pupils achieving higher standard in reading and 28% in maths.

The school offers a broad set of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sensory room, music rooms, art studios, and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, cricket, athletics and cross country, while clubs include book club, drama and art club. SEND support is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties (dyslexia), moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, visual impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery or sixth form. For families in St. Helens seeking a high-performing, oversubscribed but accessible primary with strong SEND provision and a clear academic track record, Bleak Hill is a compelling option, particularly for those who can secure a place within its catchment.

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