Holy Family Catholic Primary School
100%
Capacity
211
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Holy Family Catholic Primary School
Holy Family Catholic Primary School is a popular choice among local families, with 47 applications for 29 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.62. Every one of the 29 first-preference applicants was offered a place, which suggests the school is a realistic first choice for many parents in Blackpool. The school currently has 211 pupils on roll, just one above its official capacity of 210, so it is running very close to full. While the school does not publish a parent-view recommendation percentage, the high level of first-preference applications indicates strong local confidence. The headteacher, Emma Allonby, leads a Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, and 18 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is in line with the national average for primary schools.
Academically, Holy Family was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2012, and an ungraded inspection in December 2021 confirmed that the school remains Good. This is a solid improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2009, when it was rated Requires Improvement. The 2021 inspection gave top marks for both leadership and management and overall effectiveness, both rated Good. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results in the available data, so it is not possible to compare its performance directly with the Blackpool local authority average of 58 per cent reaching the expected standard. However, the school sits among strong local peers: Kincraig Primary School, Blackpool St Nicholas CofE Primary, and Westcliff Primary Academy all rank highly in the area. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Layton Primary School, 1.3 km away, so Holy Family is a strong Good option within a short distance.
The school offers a range of facilities including an ICT suite, gymnasium, dining hall, outdoor playground, library, and a chapel, reflecting its Catholic character. Sports provision covers rounders, gymnastics, netball, tennis, and dance, while clubs include chess, film club, and coding. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, and autistic spectrum disorder. There is no nursery or sixth form, and the school does not offer boarding. Holy Family is best suited to Catholic families or those who value a faith-based primary education in central Blackpool, particularly those who want a school that is consistently oversubscribed but still achievable as a first preference.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Seacrest Avenue, Blackpool, Blackpool, FY1 2SD |
| Headteacher | Emma Allonby |
| Local Authority | Blackpool |
| Number of Pupils | 211 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 18.0% |
| School Capacity | 211 / 210 (100% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
9 Dec 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (9 Dec 2021): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 26 Jun 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed29
47
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
29 families put this school as their 1st choice (62% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.4%
- White (other)15.6%
- Asian5.6%
- Mixed1.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Family Catholic Primary School
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Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Seacrest Avenue, Blackpool
Blackpool, FY1 2SD
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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