Christ The King Catholic Academy

About Christ The King Catholic Academy

Christ The King Catholic Academy is a state primary in Blackpool that is noticeably oversubscribed: for 30 places in the 2025/26 intake, it received 59 total applications and 33 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.97. The school currently has 243 pupils against a capacity of 220, so it is running above its official number, which suggests real local demand. Its intake reflects a diverse socioeconomic mix — 41.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average of around 23% and also higher than the Blackpool LA average for primary schools. As a Roman Catholic school with nursery provision from age three, it draws families from across the faith community and beyond. The headteacher is Sarah Smith, and the school has a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent graded inspection in 2013, with an ungraded inspection in 2022 confirming it remains Good.

Academically, Christ The King performs solidly within the local context. In the 2023/24 KS2 assessments, 58% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — exactly matching the Blackpool LA average of 58%. Reading was a relative strength, with 90% reaching the expected standard and 39% achieving the higher standard, while maths saw 84% at expected and 13% at higher. Writing was weaker, with 68% at expected and none at the higher level. The school’s average scaled scores were 107 in reading and 105 in maths, both above the national benchmark of 100. In the local authority rankings, it sits 10th out of 23 primary schools, placing it in the top half. Nationally, it ranks in the 60th percentile, meaning it outperforms a majority of schools across England. Its previous Ofsted inspection in 2011 rated it Requires Improvement, so the improvement to Good is a clear positive.

The school offers a practical range of facilities including playing fields, a forest school, art studios, a chapel, and a library. Sports provision covers gymnastics, cricket, football and dance, while clubs include chess, book club and gardening. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, multi-sensory impairment, and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a realistic option for families whose children need targeted support within a mainstream setting. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Layton Primary School, 0.6 km away, so some families may also consider that alternative. Christ The King suits families who want a faith-based primary with strong reading outcomes, a clear improvement trajectory, and a genuinely oversubscribed, community-focused feel — especially those who value the nursery provision and the forest school.

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