Banks St Stephen's CofE School, Southport
Data last updated 12 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Banks St Stephen's creates a warm, inclusive environment where pupils feel happy and safe. The school excels in mathematics and writing, with particularly strong multiplication tables achievement in Year 4. Leaders work hard to support all families, including those from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, and ensure disadvantaged pupils benefit from enrichment experiences like theatre visits and musical performances.
Key Strengths
- Strong mathematics teaching, particularly in Year 4 multiplication tables where pupils consistently achieve well
- Excellent writing across the school with pupils achieving well and recalling important information effectively
- Well-designed curriculum that builds logically from early years to Year 6, with careful amendments made where needed
- Strong safeguarding culture where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe
- Inclusive approach with warm relationships between school, families and different communities
Areas for Improvement
- Reading and phonics teaching has slipped recently - Year 1 phonics screening and Year 6 reading attainment were below average in 2025
- Pupil attendance remains below average with too many pupils not attending regularly and persistent absence rates higher than expected
- Some staff lack detailed understanding of the specific learning needs of pupils with SEND despite training provided
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Live performances, music events with local secondary school, educational trips, theatre visits (professional musical performances)
Banks St Stephen's CofE School is a Church of England primary school in Southport. The school has expected standards across most areas, with particular strengths in mathematics and writing, though reading and phonics require improvement.
At a Glance
18.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 79% to 66%. Maths has remained stable at around 72%. Writing has improved from 71% to 79%.
Class Sizes
23.6
Avg class size
24.0
Infant (KS1)
24.3
KS2
8
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Over capacity
199 pupils
200 capacity
1 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Southport
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Southport
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
15,664
Applications
12,136
Got 1st preference
93.0%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(8)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.87566%
Overall absence
20.625%
Persistent absence
160
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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