St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School, Widnes

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils develop a deep body of knowledge and communication skills from their varied starting points across all subjects and year groups."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Leaders track pupils' attendance meticulously."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that pupils receive a high-quality and ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have created an inclusive culture that seeks to transform pupils' experiences and outcomes."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders have a precise understanding of the school's strengths and the community that they serve."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have carefully crafted a personal development programme that seeks to fully enrich pupils' school journey."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders are committed to children getting the best possible start through high-quality early years education and care."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should continue to embed the recent changes to the mathematics curriculum so that more pupils consistently recall multiplication facts and perform in line with other subjects in national tests. • Leaders should strengthen their early years provision to ensure that children's foundational knowledge and skills for writing are mastered consistently so that they are fully prepared for Year 1".

In its own words: "8.40: EYFS gate opens for Reception, Nursery and 2 year olds (closes at 8.55am)"

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School reached the expected standard in reading and 83% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 72% in Halton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 81% in reading and 74% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 31 families put St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School as their first choice and 46 named it as one of their preferences, for 31 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 Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School are Kingsway Primary Academy School (0.3 miles, Good, 60% reading, 56% maths); St Bede's Catholic Infant School (0.6 miles, Outstanding); St Bede's Catholic Junior School (0.6 miles, Good, 71% reading, 77% maths); and Fairfield Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 80% maths).

St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School's 2025 results were higher than all 3 of them.

72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School (as of April 2026): 82% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

39.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 34.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (56%), Mixed (11%) and Black (9%).

In 2026, 46 pupils (19.5%) received SEN support and 2 (0.8%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Widnes Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tesco Store (outside), 90 metres away.

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

St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School are Wade Deacon High School (0.9 miles), Saints Peter and Paul Catholic High School (0.9 miles) and Ormiston Chadwick Academy (1.5 miles).