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St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale

West Lancashire, WN8 6TNPrimaryAges 2–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
KS2 Results
74%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
1.0×
Oversubscribed
31 1st-choice / 30 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#2936 of 13,686 nationally

About St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale

St James' Catholic Primary School in Skelmersdale is a state-funded, mixed Roman Catholic primary for children aged 2 to 11, and it is currently running above its official capacity. With 235 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is clearly in demand, and the admissions data for 2025/26 confirms that pressure: the school received 73 applications for just 30 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.43 to one. Of those, 31 families put it as their first preference, and all 30 places went to first-preference applicants, meaning a significant number of families who wanted a place here did not get one. The school serves a community where 14% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is broadly in line with the national average for primary schools and suggests a reasonably mixed socioeconomic intake. Its Catholic character is a defining feature, and the school has a nursery provision for two-year-olds, making it a natural choice for local Catholic families looking for a continuous primary pathway from the earliest years.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range2 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterRoman Catholic
AddressAshurst Road, Skelmersdale, West Lancashire, WN8 6TN
HeadteacherAngela Blacoe
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils235
Free School Meals (FSM)14.0%
School Capacity235 / 210 (112% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

22 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 26 Apr 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Outdoor PlaygroundICT SuiteLibraryForest SchoolPlaying FieldsSports HallArt StudiosChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

FootballCricketSwimmingAthleticsTennis

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubChessArt ClubFilm ClubDramaScience Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguagePhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale

St James' Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.