St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan

About St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan

Parents considering St Jude’s Catholic Primary School in Wigan will find a school that is clearly popular with local families. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 32 applications for its 21 Reception places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.52. All 21 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that while the school is in demand, those who put it first have a strong chance of getting in. The school is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary for mixed-gender pupils aged 5 to 11, with headteacher Damian Wilson at the helm. It currently has 191 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, so there is a little breathing room. Over half of its pupils (52.4%) are eligible for free school meals, which is notably high and reflects the diverse intake the school serves.

Academically, St Jude’s performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Wigan local authority average of 65%. This places the school 23rd out of 98 primary schools in the borough, putting it in the top quarter nationally. The average reading score was 109 and maths 108, both comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. At the higher standard, 9% of pupils achieved greater depth across all three subjects, with 55% hitting that mark in reading and 50% in maths. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in April 2023 rated it Good overall, with every category — from quality of education to behaviour and leadership — also judged Good. This marks a clear improvement from its previous inspection in 2019, when it was rated Requires Improvement.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including a library, playing fields, gymnasium, dining hall and chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, swimming, rounders, dance, cricket and gymnastics, while after-school clubs include coding, drama, gardening, film club and science club. St Jude’s also has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, physical disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. This makes it a strong option for families who want a mainstream Catholic primary with a clear track record of academic improvement and a genuinely inclusive approach. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and it is not a boarding school.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Jude's Catholic Primary School Wigan

Helpful Guides for Parents