Warrington St Ann's CofE Primary School

About Warrington St Ann's CofE Primary School

Warrington St Ann’s CofE Primary School is a smaller-than-average state primary in Warrington, with 176 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210. That leaves around a sixth of its places unfilled, but the picture is more nuanced than it first appears. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 28 applications for just 16 Reception places, making it oversubscribed with a ratio of 1.75 applicants per place. Fourteen of those applications were first-preference choices, and all 14 received offers — so while demand is real, it’s not so intense that local families are being routinely turned away. What really stands out is the proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals: 51.7%, which is well above the national average for primary schools and signals a catchment with significant economic disadvantage. The school is Church of England-affiliated, takes children from age 2 (with a nursery on site), and is led by headteacher Kathryn Keen.

Academically, Warrington St Ann’s is a school that has clearly turned a corner. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2024, it was rated Good across all five categories — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. That’s a notable improvement from its previous inspection in 2021, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall, with quality of education and leadership both graded 3. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 57% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — below the Warrington local authority average of 69%, and placing the school 43rd out of 55 primaries in the borough. However, individual subject results tell a more mixed story: 86% met the expected standard in writing, and 75% in maths, while reading lagged at 61%. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 4%, and the school sits in the bottom 50 nationally by this measure.

The school is well equipped for a primary of its size, with facilities including a library, chapel, ICT suite, sports hall, gymnasium, art studios, and a forest school. Sports provision covers swimming, cricket, tennis, dance and rounders, and there are clubs for coding, choir, eco club and drama. SEND support is broad, covering moderate learning difficulty, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health — a useful range given the school’s demographic profile. With nursery provision from age 2 and no sixth form, it’s a straightforward all-through primary for families who want a church-affiliated school with strong pastoral support. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, 2.3 km away. For parents weighing up options, St Ann’s offers a clear improvement trajectory and a practical, well-resourced environment, though its academic results sit below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Warrington St Ann's CofE Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents