The Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School
67%
Capacity
94
Pupils
2.8x
Demand
About The Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School
The Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Halton is a small Roman Catholic primary where just 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 in the 2023/24 academic year. That is dramatically below the Halton local authority average of 59%, placing the school 43rd out of 49 primary schools in the area. Only 9% of pupils reached the higher standard across all three subjects, and the school sits in the bottom 50 nationally on this measure. These are sobering headline figures, but they need to be read alongside the school’s context: over half of its pupils (52.1%) are eligible for free school meals, a rate well above the national average, and the school is significantly undersubscribed, operating at just 94 pupils against a capacity of 140.
The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in July 2024 rated it Good overall, a notable improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2022. Every graded area — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — was judged Good. This suggests the school is on an upward trajectory under headteacher Jenia Taneva-Crabbe. Looking at the KS2 results in more detail, reading was the strongest subject: 55% of pupils reached the expected standard and 18% achieved the higher standard. Maths was weaker, with 36% at expected and 9% at higher. Progress scores were not published, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the Ofsted upgrade points to improving practice.
The school offers a range of facilities including a sports hall, gymnasium, ICT suite, library, sensory room and chapel, plus clubs such as gardening, science and eco club. It has a broad SEND offer covering dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, speech and language needs, visual and multi-sensory impairments, and physical disabilities. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed with 14 applications for 5 places, though only 4 first-preference applications were received, suggesting most applicants listed it lower down their choices. This is a school that will particularly suit families seeking a faith-based primary with strong SEND support and a nurturing approach, but those focused on academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing local options such as Moorfield Primary or St Bede’s Catholic Infant School, 4.6 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 3 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Cotterill, Runcorn, Halton, WA7 2NL |
| Headteacher | Jenia Taneva-Crabbe |
| Local Authority | Halton |
| Number of Pupils | 94 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 52.1% |
| School Capacity | 94 / 140 (67% full) |
| Nursery Classes | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Jul 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 15 Sept 2024. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (27%)
13389th of 13,686
Nationally
2013th of 2,065
In North West
43rd of 43
In Halton
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
27%
Expected Standard
9%
Higher Standard
'22/23
44%
'23/24
27%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
8Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed5
14
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
4 families put this school as their 1st choice (29% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Among the highest-disadvantage schools.
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British75.5%
- Mixed9.6%
- White (other)5.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
16
Total schools
15
Oversubscribed
13
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Holy Spirit 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
Contact Information
Cotterill, Runcorn
Halton, WA7 2NL
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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