St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School

About St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School

St Kentigern's Catholic Primary School in Blackpool holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained across its two most recent inspections. The most telling academic metric comes from the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results: 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is a solid figure, sitting seven percentage points above the Blackpool local authority average of 58%. The school ranks 8th out of 23 primary schools in the borough on this measure, placing it in the top half of local schools. In individual subjects, reading and maths average scores were 107 and 105 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. A notable 26% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading and in maths, though the proportion hitting the higher bar in writing was much smaller at 3%. The school's most recent Ofsted visit, an ungraded inspection in April 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained.

Beyond the headline figures, the school's performance is strongest in maths, where 90% of pupils met the expected standard, compared with 84% in reading and 71% in writing. The gap between maths and writing outcomes is worth noting for parents whose children may need extra support in literacy. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive: 97% of the 35 respondents to the Parent View survey would recommend the school. Strong majorities strongly agreed that their child is happy (71%) and feels safe (66%). The school is oversubscribed for the 2025/26 intake, receiving 71 applications for 29 places, with 25 offers going to first-preference families. That works out at roughly 2.45 applications per place, so early application is advisable. The school's SEND provisions cover a broad range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social and emotional mental health support, though the Parent View data on SEND support had no responses, so it is hard to gauge parent satisfaction in that area.

Facilities are generous for a primary school of 214 pupils, including a library, gymnasium, art studios, music rooms, an ICT suite, a chapel and playing fields. The sports programme offers tennis, athletics, swimming and football, while clubs include gardening, coding, chess and an eco club. The school is a Roman Catholic state primary for mixed pupils aged 4 to 11, with no nursery or sixth form provision. It is not a boarding school. With a capacity of 202 but currently housing 214 pupils, the school is running slightly over its official number. This is a school that suits families who prioritise strong maths outcomes, a Catholic ethos, and a school that is well-regarded locally but not at the very top of the league tables. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Layton Primary, is 1.4 km away, so St Kentigern's is a strong Good option for those who want a solid, well-liked local school without the extra competition for places at an Outstanding school.

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