St Columba's Catholic Primary School
About St Columba's Catholic Primary School
St Columba's Catholic Primary School sits within the Knowsley local authority, where it ranks 43rd out of 47 primary schools on the key stage 2 expected standard measure. That places it in the bottom half of the borough, some distance behind the top-performing local peers: Halewood Church of England Primary Academy, Halsnead Primary School and Malvern Primary School. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 3 to 11, led by headteacher Kathryn Edwards. It currently has 224 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 249. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 58.2%, well above the national average, reflecting the school's role in a community with significant socioeconomic need. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, conducted in November 2024, the school was judged to be Good overall, with personal development rated Outstanding. The previous inspection in 2020 also awarded a Good rating, with personal development again singled out as Outstanding.
Key Details
The full report on this school
What 14 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
12 Nov 2024From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.
Source: Ofsted, 10 Dec 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
6Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
School day
Teaching hours
08:55 – 15:10
Source: stcolumbasknowsley.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About St Columba's Catholic Primary School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights