St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale

From the headteacher's welcome: "St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School is a happy, successful school where every person is valued and loved, and where everyone is encouraged to be the very best that they can be. It is an inclusive school which places Gospel values at the heart of everything we do."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am.

In 2025, 30% of Year 6 pupils at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 20% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 72% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School are Bishop Martin Church of England Primary School (0.2 miles, 69% reading, 81% maths); Hillside Community Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 65% reading, 70% maths); Little Digmoor Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 64% maths); and Moorside Community Primary Academy School (0.4 miles, Good, 66% reading, 79% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School.

44.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 19 pupils (13.1%) received SEN support and 10 (6.9%) 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.

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 8 places, 3 pupils on roll.

St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School had 9 teachers in 2026, one for every 15 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Upholland Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fir Tree Close (opposite), 190 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 168 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School issued 21 suspensions, 12.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.