Holy Family Catholic Primary School & Nursery

About Holy Family Catholic Primary School & Nursery

Parents considering Holy Family Catholic Primary School & Nursery will find a school that is clearly popular locally. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 49 applications for just 28 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.75, meaning nearly two families applied for every available spot. All 28 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that if you live close enough and make it your top choice, your chances are reasonable. The school has a nursery provision for children aged two and above, which can be a practical advantage for families looking for continuity from early years through to Year 6. With 224 pupils on roll against a capacity of 240, the school is operating near its limit, which aligns with its oversubscribed status. ParentView data isn't available in the current information, but the strong application numbers are a clear signal of the school's standing in the Knowsley community.

Academically, Holy Family performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 69% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Knowsley average of 60%. This places the school 13th out of 47 primary schools in the local authority, putting it in the top third. Scores in individual subjects were solid: a reading average of 105, maths average of 104, and 83% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading. At the higher end, 21% achieved higher scores in reading and maths, and 14% in writing. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 confirmed it remains Good overall, with Good ratings for leadership, early years provision and the quality of education. This is a step down from its previous Outstanding rating in 2011, but the school has held a Good rating across its two most recent graded inspections.

The school offers a strong range of facilities for a primary of its size, including a chapel, forest school area, music rooms, sports hall and playing fields. Sports provision includes athletics, netball, rounders, cross country and swimming, while clubs cover art, drama and book club. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The religious character is Roman Catholic, which will be a key consideration for some families. Holy Family is a good fit for parents who want a well-subscribed local primary with solid academic outcomes above the Knowsley average, a nursery on site, and a clear Catholic ethos, all within a school that is not oversubscribed to the point of being unreachable for first-preference applicants.

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