St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington, Wigan

Ofsted's report card from its 19 May 2026 inspection grades St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington 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. "Attendance is improving."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in early years are happy, safe and settled."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils at St Joseph's are proud of their school and its values that shape their daily life."

Achievement - Needs attention. "While leaders are ambitious for pupils to achieve well, some pupils do not achieve as well as they could, particularly in national assessments."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teaching quality differs across the school."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "At times, leaders do not identify pupils' needs accurately."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "The school has been through a period of significant change, including in its leadership."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should identify and address the reasons why the quality of teaching varies across the school and act quickly to improve consistency in teaching"; "Leaders should make sure that the curriculum is matched appropriately to pupils' age and stage, including for Reception-age children in the mixed-age class and higher attaining pupils, so that pupils build knowledge securely over time and achieve as well as they should"; "Leaders should target support precisely to pupils' needs, including for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, so that barriers to learning are reduced"; "Leaders should identify promptly the pupils who have not secured basic knowledge and skills and provide effective support to close those gaps quickly"; "Governors should deepen their understanding of the school's work so that they provide effective support and challenge".

From the headteacher's welcome: "A very warm welcome on behalf of our children, staff and Governors! We are a small school, with a big heart and I am extremely proud to be the Headteacher here at St Joseph's. We pride ourselves on the close relationships we build with our children and parents and how together we are one big, happy 'St Joseph's family'."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care.

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 67% in reading and 58% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 13 families put St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 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 Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington are Wrightington Mossy Lea Primary School (0.7 miles, Good); Shevington Vale Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 77% reading, 80% maths); Coppull St John's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 60% reading, 53% maths); and St Marie's Catholic Primary School Standish (1.4 miles, Outstanding, 91% reading, 91% maths).

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

4.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 8 pupils (11.9%) received SEN support and 7 (10.4%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington had 5 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 Appley Bridge Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Josephs CPS (opposite), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often drug offences, anti-social behaviour and other theft. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington issued 1 suspension, 1.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Wrightington are Standish Community High School (1 mile) and Shevington High School (1.3 miles).