Our Lady and St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School

About Our Lady and St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School

Our Lady and St Werburgh's Catholic Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection in 2014, and a subsequent ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed the school remains Good. The most telling exam metric is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined at Key Stage 2: 74% of pupils achieved this benchmark in the 2023/24 academic year. That is notably above the Staffordshire local authority average of 65% for primary schools, placing the school comfortably ahead of the typical peer. In reading, 90% of pupils met the expected standard, with 48% reaching the higher standard, while in maths 84% met expectations and 26% achieved the higher mark. The school’s overall ranking score of 74 places it in the top 25% of primary schools nationally, and 12th out of 35 schools in the Newcastle-under-Lyme local area.

The school’s Ofsted history shows it was previously rated Outstanding in 2006, with top marks for early years provision, leadership and management, and overall effectiveness. The current Good rating reflects a change from that earlier grade, but the 2022 ungraded inspection found no reason to downgrade it further. The school’s Progress 8 scores for reading, writing and maths are not available in the data, so it is not possible to assess how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. However, the strong attainment figures, particularly in reading, suggest a solid academic foundation. The school’s capacity is 210 pupils, but it currently has 242 on roll, indicating it is operating above its official capacity, which aligns with its oversubscribed status.

Admissions data for the 2025/26 intake shows the school received 68 total applications for 30 places, with 43 first-preference applications and 30 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.27. This means the school is popular and selective in practice, so parents should apply early. Facilities include a library, playing fields, music rooms, a sensory room, art studios, a sports hall and a chapel, reflecting the school’s Catholic character. Sports offered include cricket, tennis, netball, athletics, rounders and cross country, while clubs cover science, coding and eco activities. The school has a nursery provision and supports pupils with specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. This is a good fit for families seeking a faith-based primary with strong academic outcomes and a broad range of enrichment, but who are prepared for a competitive admissions process.

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