Rectory CofE Primary School, Wigan

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Rectory CofE Primary School on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders make attendance a priority."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of how well children are doing in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Inclusion is a strength of the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have created a culture of shared purpose, including high expectations and inclusion."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's context and design a personal development programme that reflects pupils needs accurately."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Some pupils who are capable of attaining well in national curriculum tests, do not consistently do as well as they could."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders have a clear understanding where teaching is not as effective."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers use checks on pupils' learning more consistently to identify any gaps which pupils have in their knowledge. They should support teachers to use these checks effectively so that they can successfully address gaps in pupils' knowledge"; "Leaders should ensure that they embed highly effective teaching across the school so that all groups of pupils gain the knowledge they should across the curriculum"; "Leaders should strengthen the teaching of pupils foundational writing and mathematics knowledge so that pupils build on what they already know and achieve well".

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Rectory CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 33% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in St. Helens and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 46% in reading and 38% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 3 families put Rectory CofE Primary School as their first choice and 9 named it as one of their preferences, for 4 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 Rectory CofE Primary School are Garswood Primary and Nursery School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 93% reading, 80% maths); Bryn St Peter's CofE Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 90% maths); Nicol Mere School (1 mile, Outstanding, 97% reading, 97% maths); and R L Hughes Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 85% reading, 97% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Rectory CofE Primary School.

40.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 16 pupils (12.3%) received SEN support and 44 (33.8%) 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 autism.

Rectory CofE Primary School has a resourced provision for autism: 32 places, 32 pupils on roll.

Rectory CofE Primary School had 18 teachers in 2026, one for every 7 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Garswood Rail Station, about 1160 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Elm Avenue (near), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 18 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in St. Helens (144).

In 2024/25, Rectory CofE Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rectory CofE Primary School are Cansfield High School (1 mile); St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Ashton-in-Makerfield (1.6 miles); and The Byrchall High School (1.6 miles).