St Raphael's Catholic Primary School

About St Raphael's Catholic Primary School

St Raphael's Catholic Primary School in Tameside has been rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school's academic story is best told through its Key Stage 2 results, where 92% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure places the school second out of 57 primary schools in Tameside, putting it in the top 5% nationally. It also sits well above the local authority average of 62%, underlining the strength of the school's core teaching. The ungraded inspection in July 2024 confirmed the school remains Good, with leadership and management, early years provision, and overall effectiveness all judged Good. The headteacher, Lynn Lakner, leads a school that has clearly turned a corner since its 2013 inspection, and the data suggests that improvement has been sustained.

Digging deeper into the exam results, the school's performance is consistently strong across individual subjects. In reading, 96% of pupils reached the expected standard, with an average scaled score of 109. Maths saw 92% at the expected level, also with an average score of 109. At the higher standard, 36% of pupils achieved in reading, 56% in maths, and 12% in writing. The combined higher standard for reading, writing and maths was 8%, which reflects a focus on securing solid foundations across the board rather than pushing for the highest tier at the expense of breadth. The school's ranking score of 92, based on the proportion of pupils meeting the expected standard, places it 34th in the North West region and 220th nationally. For a small primary with 213 pupils, these are strong results that suggest effective teaching and a curriculum that delivers consistent outcomes.

The school is oversubscribed, with 37 applications for 30 places in the 2025/26 intake, and all 20 first-preference families received an offer. It has a nursery provision for children from age three, and the facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, playing fields, art studios, a chapel, and a sensory room. SEND support is available for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and for social, emotional and mental health needs. Clubs include art, coding, eco club and book club, while sports on offer range from netball and tennis to swimming and cricket. With a Roman Catholic character and a Good Ofsted rating, this school will particularly suit families in Tameside looking for a faith-based primary with strong academic outcomes and a clear sense of community. The nearest Outstanding-rated school, Millbrook Primary, is just 0.1 km away, so parents in the area do have a nearby alternative, but St Raphael's strong results and oversubscription suggest it is already a popular choice.

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