Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School, Wigan
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Wigan. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 21st-highest of the 67 schools in Wigan with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 93% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Wigan (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 83% of Year 6 pupils at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Wigan and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 63% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 47 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School are Hindley All Saints CofE Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 74% reading, 84% maths); Hindley Junior and Infant School (0.6 miles, Good, 90% reading, 87% maths); Hindley Junior and Infant School (0.6 miles); and St Benedict's Catholic Primary School Hindley (0.8 miles, Good, 93% reading, 89% maths).
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.
Hindley All Saints CofE Primary SchoolHindley Junior and Infant SchoolHindley Junior and Infant SchoolSt Benedict's Catholic Primary School Hindley
Who goes there
41.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 48 pupils (23.9%) received SEN support and 15 (7.5%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Hindley Rail Station, about 760 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).
13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hereford Road (near), 110 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School issued 6 suspensions, 3.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Castle Hill is a caring, inclusive school where pupils thrive academically and personally. The school has excellent phonics teaching that helps struggling readers catch up, and provides strong support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they are fully included in all learning. Pupils enjoy a rich curriculum brought to life through trips and visits, with plenty of clubs and activities to develop their talents and interests.
Key Strengths
- Pupils love reading and develop strong comprehension skills with effective phonics teaching
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND who are fully included and achieve well
- Strong behaviour and attendance with pupils conducting themselves well around school
- Well-designed, ambitious curriculum that engages and interests pupils
- Effective early years provision that prepares children well for Year 1
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent curriculum delivery in a few subject areas means some pupils do not develop the depth of knowledge they could
- Teachers need training to implement curriculum consistently well across all subjects
- Governors need stronger oversight of curriculum delivery and pupil achievement to challenge leaders effectively
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders and governors understanding their responsibilities, staff regularly briefed on welfare matters, and concerns recorded and reported immediately.
Extracurricular Activities
Sports clubs, eco-club, ukulele, trumpet, drums, water sports, orienteering, annual outdoor retreat, visits to zoos and museums, Houses of Parliament visit for Year 5
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School is a good school where pupils are proud to attend, form strong relationships with staff and peers, and benefit from a well-designed curriculum that prepares them effectively for their next steps in education.
At a Glance
41.8%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 63% to 83% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 83% to 93% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 73% to 80% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.8
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
27.7
KS2
6
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School.
- Castle Hill Kids Club Hindley LtdAt the school · Not yet graded
- CFAT Superheroes Hindley J&I School920m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School is in Wigan; for families living there:
Apply to Wigan for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 7
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Wigan, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Wigan got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
93%
Near capacity
196 pupils
210 places
14 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Wigan
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Wigan
Across Wigan council
Places available
3,894
Applications
3,541
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
97.3%
All primary applications across Wigan council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
48
SEN Support
15
EHC Plans
31.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
201
Total Pupils
108
Boys
93
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
20.1:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£53,553
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,870
Per pupil
£1328k
Total funding
£114k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.3%
Overall absence
10.4%
Persistent absence
173
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
Questions parents ask about Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 83% reached the expected standard in reading and 93% did so in maths.
What is Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in March 2023.
What is the catchment area for Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Wigan allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 93% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Classes at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School average 28.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School has around 201 pupils on roll. 42% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
4.3% of sessions were missed at Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 10.4% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Wigan's coordinated admissions process, naming Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Castle Hill Kids Club Hindley Ltd (registered, not yet graded). There is another within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 7 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 0 serious and 6 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt: 1 on foot. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Wigan is 10 (the median across 146 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School?
Castle Hill St Philip's CofE Primary School is at Hereford Road, Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire, WN2 4DH.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)