Sacred Heart RC Primary School, Manchester

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Sacred Heart RC 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.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Leaders have ensured that pupils build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge to prepare them well for their next steps in learning."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have taken suitable action to bring about improvements to the curriculum and teaching."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children make a positive start to their learning in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders accurately identify pupils' needs at an early stage and put appropriate support in place to address any barriers to learning."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have introduced a new personal, social, health and economic curriculum that is setting higher expectations for pupils' personal development."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have ensured that pupils have a clear understanding of bullying and the harmful effects of such behaviour."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders have not ensured that the school's behaviour policy is consistently well implemented."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that they have an accurate understanding of matters related to bullying so that they deal with incidents more effectively"; "Leaders should ensure that staff model the behaviours that are expected from everyone, so that they apply the behaviour policy consistently well and deal with incidents of low-level behaviour in a calm, measured and fair manner"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers provide pupils with greater opportunities to deepen their understanding of key knowledge so that they know even more about the subjects they study across the curriculum".

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Sacred Heart RC Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Wigan and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 75% in reading and 86% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Sacred Heart RC Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 17 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 Sacred Heart RC Primary School are Hindsford CofE Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding, 90% reading, 87% maths); Parklee Primary School (0.4 miles); Chowbent Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 61% reading, 54% maths); and St Gabriel's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 85% reading, 81% maths).

Sacred Heart RC Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

38.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (67%) and Black (17%).

The nearest railway station is Atherton Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sacred Heart Church (outside), 280 metres away.

Sacred Heart RC Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Sacred Heart RC Primary School are Fred Longworth High School (0.2 miles), Atherton High School (0.6 miles), Bedford High School (1.6 miles) and St Mary's Catholic High School (1.6 miles).