Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School, Southport

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 3 strong standard, 3 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders make sure that the whole school community understands the importance of regular attendance."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Staff know pupils very well as individuals."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "School and trust leaders know this school in a minute level of detail."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have made recent improvements to the early years curriculum."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils confidently articulate why the school values are important to them."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils at this school have not, historically, achieved as well as they should."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils develop the knowledge of mathematics and reading that they need, in order to be well prepared for their next steps in education"; "Leaders should support staff to embed the recent changes to the curriculum, ensuring that in all subjects the curriculum is well designed and taught to a consistently high standard".

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

In 2025, 63% of Year 6 pupils at Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 50% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Sefton and 77% and 75% across England.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 61 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School are Kings Meadow Primary School and Early Years Education Centre (0.6 miles, Good, 89% reading, 81% maths); Shoreside Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); Farnborough Road Infant School (1.4 miles, Good); and Farnborough Road Junior School (1.4 miles, Good, 80% reading, 84% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School.

Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School is one of 19 schools run by Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 69% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

79 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 79% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 22% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (92%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (22%).

15.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Ainsdale Rail Station, about 730 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Liverpool Road (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 53 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165).

Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Ainsdale St John's Church of England Primary School are Birkdale High School (0.9 miles) and Greenbank High School (1.6 miles).