Carr Mill Primary School

About Carr Mill Primary School

Carr Mill Primary School’s headline metrics present a mixed picture when set against the St. Helens local authority average for primary schools. The school’s proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 54%, which is seven percentage points below the LA average of 61%. This places Carr Mill 33rd out of 54 similar schools in the borough, firmly in the bottom half of the local league table. However, the picture is more nuanced in individual subjects. In reading, 71% of pupils met the expected standard, and the average reading score of 105 is a solid result. Writing also saw 71% reach the expected level, while maths lagged slightly at 63%. Where the school really stands out is in its early years provision, which Ofsted rated Outstanding in its most recent graded inspection in 2017, a judgement that was reaffirmed during an ungraded visit in 2023 when the school was judged to have remained Good overall.

Academic outcomes at Carr Mill are a story of steady rather than spectacular performance. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard across reading, writing and maths combined is just 5%, which is notably low and suggests that stretching the most able pupils is an area for development. In individual subjects, the higher standard figures are more encouraging: 32% in reading, 20% in writing and 15% in maths. The average maths score of 102 is in line with the national average, while the reading average of 105 is slightly above. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, a graded visit in 2017, awarded Good for overall effectiveness, leadership and management, and quality of education. The 2023 ungraded inspection confirmed that the school remains Good, with inspectors noting that early years provision continues to be Outstanding. The school has held a Good rating across both its recent inspections, with no evidence of decline.

Carr Mill is a community primary school with a nursery provision, catering for children aged 3 to 11. It is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, there were 40 applications for 23 places, with 22 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.74. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment, with 45.2% of pupils eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. Facilities include a forest school, playing fields, a gymnasium and an ICT suite, and the school offers a range of clubs including eco club, coding, drama and science club. Sports provision is broad, with cross country, netball, gymnastics and tennis among the options. The school’s SEND provision is comprehensive, covering specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health support. This is a school that will suit families looking for a well-established local primary with strong early years provision and a supportive approach to pupils with additional needs, though those seeking top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing local options such as St Mary’s Catholic Primary School.

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