St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School

About St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School in Wigan is a state primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 191 children against a capacity of 210. That leaves a small amount of headroom, but the school is clearly popular: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 60 applications for just 26 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.31. All 26 first-preference applicants were offered a spot, so getting in as a first choice is possible but competitive. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 15.2 per cent, which is broadly in line with the national average for primary schools and suggests a reasonably mixed socioeconomic intake. As a Roman Catholic school, it will draw families from the local Catholic community, though the school's admission policy will determine how places are allocated beyond the faith criterion. The headteacher is Helen Crowder, and the school also offers nursery provision for younger children.

Academically, St Bernadette's is rated Good by Ofsted across all five categories in its most recent inspection, which took place in July 2023. This is a consistent rating: the school was also judged Good in its previous inspection back in 2012. At Key Stage 2, 59 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is below the Wigan local authority average of 65 per cent. The school's ranking within the borough reflects this: it sits at 67th out of 98 primary schools, placing it in the bottom half of Wigan primaries. Looking at individual subjects, 77 per cent reached the expected standard in both maths and writing, while 73 per cent did so in reading. Higher attainment — achieving a high score — was strongest in writing at 32 per cent, followed by reading at 27 per cent and maths at 14 per cent. Average scaled scores were 105 for maths and 104 for reading.

The school offers a solid range of facilities, including a chapel, sensory room, library, music and art studios, plus playing fields and a sports hall. Sports provision covers rounders, dance, cross country, athletics, swimming and cricket, while clubs include film, eco, gardening, book, science and art. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is not a boarding option and does not have a sixth form. Given its Catholic character, strong local demand and Good Ofsted rating, St Bernadette's will suit families seeking a faith-based primary with a broad extracurricular offer, though those prioritising top-tier academic results may want to compare outcomes with higher-ranked local schools.

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