Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston

About Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Preston

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Preston is a popular choice among local families, with 23 out of 25 places offered to first-preference applicants in the 2025/26 admissions round. The school received 56 applications for those places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 2.24, meaning more than two families applied for every available spot. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, though the school does not publish a parent-view survey recommendation percentage. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 205 children, just below its capacity of 210. Over 30 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is notably higher than the national average and indicates a diverse intake. The headteacher is L Scanlon.

Academically, Sacred Heart has improved significantly since its last inspection. In September 2023, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, upgrading it from a Requires Improvement rating it had received in February 2020. All five key areas inspected — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — were rated Good. This represents a clear turnaround in leadership and teaching quality. The school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results in the available data, so it is not possible to compare its academic performance directly against the Lancashire local authority average of 60 per cent achieving the expected standard. However, the Ofsted report notes that pupils behave well and show positive attitudes to learning, and the early years provision is also rated Good, suggesting a solid foundation from Reception onwards.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school area, chapel, music rooms, and a gymnasium, alongside outdoor playgrounds and playing fields. Sports provision covers football, netball, cricket, dance, gymnastics, and cross country, while clubs include gardening, chess, choir, and eco club. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language difficulties, and autistic spectrum disorder. Sacred Heart is not a boarding school and has no sixth form or nursery provision. It will suit families seeking a faith-based primary with strong pastoral care and a clear improvement trajectory, particularly those who value a school that is oversubscribed yet accessible to a wide range of backgrounds.

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