Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh

About Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh received a Requires Improvement rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in July 2025, though the inspection was a section 8 visit and the overall effectiveness was not formally judged. The school's academic story is best told through its Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year, where just 49% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits well below the Wigan local authority average of 65%, and places the school 89th out of 98 primary schools in the borough. In individual subjects, 64% of pupils met the expected standard in both reading and maths, with average scores of 101 and 103 respectively, while 58% did so in writing. No pupils reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and the school ranks in the bottom 50 nationally for this key measure.

The Ofsted breakdown from the 2025 inspection shows a mixed picture. Behaviour and attitudes, along with personal development, were both rated Good, suggesting that while academic outcomes are a concern, the school creates a positive environment for its pupils. Leadership and management, quality of education, and early years provision were all judged as Requires Improvement. This represents a step back from the previous graded inspection in June 2023, when early years provision was rated Good. Parent views, collected between September 2024 and September 2025, are similarly divided. While 58% of the 31 respondents would recommend the school, only 39% strongly agreed that their child does well there, and a significant minority expressed dissatisfaction with how concerns are handled and how the school communicates progress.

Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic primary school for children aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 298 pupils against a capacity of 315. It was oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 48 applications for 45 places, with 21 first-preference offers made. The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, chapel, and ICT suite, and runs clubs such as film, art, science, eco, drama and book club. Sports on offer include netball, dance, football and cricket. The school supports children with a variety of special educational needs, including autism, speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional mental health needs. For families prioritising academic outcomes, the nearest outstanding-rated alternative is Leigh St John's CofE Primary, just half a kilometre away.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School Leigh

Helpful Guides for Parents