Caton Primary School, Lancaster
Caton Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Lancaster. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in May 2019. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in February 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 24 schools in Lancaster with published results, and 2,234th of 14,452 across England. It was 69% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2019)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 75 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 1 Nov 2026
Caton Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils at Caton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 83% 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 Caton Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 11 families put Caton Primary School as their first choice and 51 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Caton Primary School are Caton St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 92% maths); St Wilfrid's Cof E Primary School (1.8 miles, Good, 72% reading, 92% maths); Quernmore Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 85% reading, 85% maths); and Nether Kellet Community Primary School (3 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 81% maths).
Caton Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Caton St Paul's Church of England Primary SchoolSt Wilfrid's Cof E Primary SchoolQuernmore Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolNether Kellet Community Primary School
What parents say
38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Caton Primary School (as of September 2025): 92% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 93% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (97%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (84%).
Who goes there
8.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (16%) received SEN support and 1 (1.2%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.
Staffing
Caton Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Caton Primary School.
1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Community PS (by), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 9 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Caton Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 13.5 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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from May 2019, 7 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's February 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school provides a warm, supportive environment where all children thrive. Staff know pupils well and tailor teaching to help every child succeed, whether they need extra support or greater challenge. The school encourages children to be confident, kind and engaged learners who understand the importance of respect and safety.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with well-trained staff who quickly identify and support pupils who need help with phonics
- Excellent identification and support for pupils with additional needs, including SEND, with well-tailored teaching
- Positive behaviour throughout the school with considerate pupils and effective support from staff
- Pupils develop confidence and independence through musical performances, performing arts and talent shows
- Broad curriculum including trips, visits, speakers, online safety and lessons about important values like democracy and tolerance
Areas for Improvement
- In a few subjects, the school needs to clarify exactly what knowledge pupils should learn and in what order, so staff emphasise key ideas properly
- Some activities pupils complete don't help them deepen their learning as effectively as they could
- Occasionally, activities don't help pupils make connections between new learning and what they've already learned
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective and the school has created an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
musical performances, performing arts, talent shows, trips and visits, speakers, breakfast club, after-school club
Caton Primary School is a small, friendly school where pupils are happy and feel safe. The school has maintained good standards and continues to support all pupils, including those with additional needs, to achieve well.
At a Glance
21.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
38 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 83% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 83% to 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 78% to 63% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
20.0
Avg class size
25.0
Infant (KS1)
21.0
KS2
4
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Caton Primary School
Nurseries
The nearest nurseries and pre-schools to Caton Primary School, with their latest published grades:
- Infinity Pre-School Ltd - Pre-school, 1.8 miles
Term dates
Caton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lancashire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.
2026 to 2027
- Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
- Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
- Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)
2027 to 2028
- Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
- Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
- Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Caton Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Caton Primary School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 3
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 1
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight are DfT estimates (severity adjustment). Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Caton Primary School
Will you get a place at Caton Primary School?
For 2026 entry it had 11 first choices for 12 places. The report sets your home postcode against these figures.
£9.99 once (inc. VAT; £19.99 for up to three schools), or Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time. What's in the report
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
69%
Available places
72 pupils
105 places
33 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Across Lancashire council
Places available
15,442
Applications
12,122
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Future places in the local planning area
DfE estimates the Lancaster/Caton Primary planning area (Lancashire) will have 7 spare primary places in 2027/28. In the year groups that are short, it estimates 18 additional places needed.
Source: Department for Education, School capacity: Academic year 2024/25 (published 19 March 2026), estimates of future school place demand by planning area. Council pupil forecasts against reported places, counting places councils and DfE plan to add or remove; rounded to whole places. Explore Education Statistics
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
17.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
81
Total Pupils
47
Boys
34
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
16.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,329
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,133
Per pupil
£594k
Total funding
£20k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.2%
Overall absence
13.8%
Persistent absence
65
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Caton Primary School
What are SATs results like at Caton Primary School?
Of the pupils at Caton Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 88% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Caton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Caton Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in February 2025, was ungraded. At its last graded inspection, in May 2019, it was rated Good.
Is it hard to get a place at Caton Primary School?
Caton Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 69% of its 105 places.
How big are the classes at Caton Primary School?
Classes at Caton Primary School average 20 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Caton Primary School?
Caton Primary School has around 81 pupils on roll. 21% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Caton Primary School?
5.2% of sessions were missed at Caton Primary School in 2024/25. 13.8% of pupils were persistently absent.
What are Caton Primary School's term dates?
Caton Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lancashire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).
How many road collisions happen near Caton Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 3 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 1 serious and 2 slight. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Caton Primary School?
Caton Primary School is at Broadacre, Caton, Lancaster, Lancashire, LA2 9NH.
Sources: Lancashire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)