St John's Church of England Primary School, Southport

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades St John's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 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 keep a close eye on attendance which is broadly in line with the national average."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders place inclusion at the centre of their work."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders make personal development and wellbeing a clear priority."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Achievement is uneven."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The teaching of reading, writing and mathematics is not as effective as it should be."

Early years - Needs attention. "Children in the Reception Year experience some inconsistencies in teaching and learning."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders understand the school's context and know pupils and their families well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff have the training that they need to deliver the curriculum consistently well, including in the early years"; "Leaders should ensure that staff consistently identify pupils' errors and misconceptions and support pupils to address these"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils achieve consistently well in reading, writing and mathematics, including in the early years, so pupils are better prepared for their next stages of education"; "Leaders, including those responsible for governance, should strengthen their oversight and challenge to ensure that the actions they take to bring about improvement are precise and timely".

In its own words: "Our school strap line is,"The JOY of the Lord is Your Strength". This quote comes from the Bible, the book of Nehemiah, Chapter 8, verse 10. Each year, we remind ourselves of the story of Nehemiah and how he was able to achieve great things with the help of God. Our JOY team have summed up Nehemiah's story for you..."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, tennis, athletics, swimming, cross-country and photography.

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at St John's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 73% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Sefton and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (63% in reading, 75% in maths).

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

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put St John's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 43 named it as one of their preferences, for 19 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 St John's Church of England Primary School are Larkfield Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 66% reading, 68% maths); Marshside Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 70% reading, 59% maths); Churchtown Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 67% reading, 65% maths); and St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths).

St John's Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

St John's Church of England Primary School had 11 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 Meols Cop Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Bridge Wills Lane (opposite), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 28 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165).

In 2024/25, St John's Church of England Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 1.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.