Caton Primary School

About Caton Primary School

Caton Primary School has been rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2019, and an ungraded visit in February 2025 confirmed that standards have been maintained. That marks a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when the school was judged to require improvement overall. The most telling academic metric comes from the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results: 72% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits comfortably above the Lancashire local authority average of 60%, placing Caton 12th out of 46 primary schools in the Lancaster district and in the top 50% nationally. The school’s overall ranking score of 72 reflects solid, consistent performance across the core subjects.

Digging into the individual subject scores, reading stands out as a particular strength. 83% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, with 44% achieving the higher standard, and the average scaled score was 108. In maths, 83% met the expected standard and 33% hit the higher mark, with an average score of 106. Writing was slightly lower, with 78% at the expected level and 28% reaching the higher standard. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard across all three subjects was 11%. While the school does not publish Progress 8 scores, these attainment figures give a clear picture of a school where most children are leaving primary school with a solid foundation, particularly in reading. The Ofsted report also rated leadership and management as Good, and the school has held that rating across both its recent inspections.

Caton is a small village primary with just 74 pupils on roll, well within its capacity of 85, and it offers nursery provision for children from age three. The school is clearly popular locally: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 50 applications for just 12 places, with 11 of those going to first-preference families. That oversubscription ratio of 4.17 to one means getting a place is competitive. Facilities include a sports hall, ICT suite, art studios, music rooms, a forest school area and a sensory room, and the school runs clubs such as drama, choir, gardening and chess. SEND support is available for pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional needs, and speech and language challenges. Parent views are overwhelmingly positive: 92% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that their child is happy, feels safe, and that the school has high expectations. This is a school that suits families who value a strong academic core, a broad range of activities, and a small, community-focused setting.

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