St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick, Ormskirk

Ofsted's report card from its 3 February 2026 inspection grades St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 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 prioritise attendance successfully."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have effectively improved provision in early years since the previous inspection."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders understand the school's strengths and areas for development."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's approach to personal development is becoming a strength."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not consistently achieve well enough in national tests."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "The quality of teaching is variable."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "At times, staff do not identify and assess pupils' individual needs with enough consistency."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities or other vulnerabilities have their barriers identified with more precision and that they support staff to use this information to set more pertinent targets which are closely reviewed and acted upon"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers check, identify and respond swiftly and routinely to gaps in pupils' foundational knowledge, particularly in transcription and number facts, so that these gaps close quickly"; "Leaders should ensure that consistently effective teaching supports pupils to deepen and embed their knowledge and understanding so that those who are capable, achieve the higher standard and greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics by the end of key stage 2".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Here you will find information about our school. However, I also encourage you to come and visit our exciting and happy learning environment. You will see that the best ambassadors for St Mary's are the pupils and staff themselves. Here at St Mary's we pride ourselves on providing the very best education for all of our children."

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 6:00pm.

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick reached the expected standard in reading and 59% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 57% in reading and 43% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 6 families put St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick as their first choice and 10 named it as one of their preferences, for 6 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 Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick are Scarisbrick St Mark's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 90% reading, 60% maths); Halsall St Cuthbert's Church of England Primary School (2.5 miles, Outstanding, 84% reading, 100% maths); Kew Woods Primary School (2.7 miles, Good, 89% reading, 84% maths); and Ormskirk West End School (2.7 miles, Good, 64% reading, 27% maths).

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

15 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school and 93% say their child is happy there.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (93%).

1.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 4 pupils (7.1%) received SEN support and 1 (1.8%) 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 autism.

The nearest railway station is Bescar Lane Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Elizabeths RC Church (adjacent), 70 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 6 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson and theft from the person. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Scarisbrick recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.