Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

About Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School in Warrington sits slightly below the local authority average for its key stage 2 headline metric, with 63% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Warrington average of 69%. That six-percentage-point gap places the school 38th out of 69 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the middle of the pack rather than at the top. Yet this headline figure doesn't tell the full story. The school's reading results are notably strong: 93% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and 33% reached the higher standard, well above what you might expect from the combined score alone. Maths and writing expected rates were 67% and 81% respectively, so the combined figure is dragged down by maths, where only 26% of pupils achieved the higher standard. The school's ranking in the North West region sits around the 45th percentile, and nationally it falls just below the midpoint. So while the overall attainment is a touch behind the local average, the picture is uneven across subjects.

Academically, Sacred Heart's most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2024 rated the school Outstanding overall, a significant upgrade from its previous Good rating in 2017. The inspection gave top marks for quality of education, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management, all rated Outstanding. Early years provision was rated Good, which is the only area not at the highest level. The school has 194 pupils on roll, with 21.6% eligible for free school meals, slightly above the national average. In terms of progress measures, the data doesn't provide specific progress scores for reading, writing or maths, so it's hard to say how much value the school adds beyond raw attainment. The local authority has six Outstanding primary schools out of 69 total, so Sacred Heart is in a small minority at that top tier. Its nearest Outstanding neighbour is Evelyn Street Primary Academy and Nursery, just 0.4 kilometres away, so parents in this part of Warrington have strong options nearby.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, forest school, playing fields, art studios, ICT suite, sensory room, library, music rooms and a chapel, which is fitting for a Roman Catholic school. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming and rounders, while clubs extend to eco club, drama, film club and choir. For children with additional needs, the school provides support for social, emotional and mental health, speech, language and communication, and visual impairment. Admissions for the 2025/26 year show the school is oversubscribed: 46 applications for 15 places, with 14 first-preference offers made from 14 first-preference applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.07. This suggests strong local demand, particularly from Catholic families who will have priority under the school's religious character. Sacred Heart is a state primary for mixed gender pupils aged 5 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. It will suit families who prioritise a faith-based education with strong behaviour and personal development, and who are comfortable with a school where reading outcomes are excellent but maths attainment is more mixed.

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