St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton, Preston
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Preston. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 28th-highest of the 106 schools in Preston with published results, and 3,408th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 102% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton in detail
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton in its own words
Coming up: an open day on Wednesday 30 June 2027 at 9.15am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Lancashire
Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton reached the expected standard in reading and 84% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 75% in reading and 75% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
For September 2026 entry, 23 families put St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton as their first choice and 59 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton are Longton Primary School (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 97% reading, 100% maths); Little Hoole Primary School (1 mile, Good, 87% reading, 84% maths); New Longton All Saints CofE Primary School (1.4 miles, Good, 87% reading, 90% maths); and Howick Church Endowed Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 87% reading, 93% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton.
Longton Primary SchoolLittle Hoole Primary SchoolNew Longton All Saints CofE Primary SchoolHowick Church Endowed Primary School
Who goes there
6.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 18 pupils (7.3%) received SEN support and 8 (3.3%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 3.6 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Oswalds RCPS (by), 270 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 27 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Suspensions and exclusions
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton are Hutton Church of England Grammar School (0.8 miles) and All Hallows Catholic High School (1.8 miles).
Hutton Church of England Grammar SchoolAll Hallows Catholic High School
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from February 2014, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2014 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
6.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 75% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 75% to 84% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 72% to 84% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
35.5
Avg class size
35.5
KS2
4
Total classes
4 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
Reception Blog - Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Year 1 Blog Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Year 5 blog - Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Year 4 Blog Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Year 6 Friday Blog 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Year 3 Blog - Friday 2nd October 2026
1 Oct 2026
From St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton.
- The Play Stop LtdAt the school · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lancashire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
Will you get a place at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton? Get the admissions report
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What the report includes for St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton:
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- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lancashire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lancashire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
250 pupils
245 places
5 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Preston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Preston
Across Lancashire council
Places available
15,442
Applications
12,122
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
18
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
10.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
246
Total Pupils
131
Boys
115
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
22.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,343
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,970
Per pupil
£1348k
Total funding
£24k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.1%
Overall absence
2.8%
Persistent absence
215
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
Questions parents ask about St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton
What are SATs results like at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
Of the pupils at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 86% reached the expected standard in reading and 84% did so in maths.
What is St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton's Ofsted rating?
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2014, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
No fixed boundary. When St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton was full in 2025, at 102% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
Classes at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton average 35.5 pupils (2025/26). 4 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton has around 246 pupils on roll. 7% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
3.1% of sessions were missed at St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton in 2024/25. 2.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: The Play Stop Ltd (registered, not yet graded). The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton?
St Oswald's Catholic Primary School, Longton is at Chapel Lane, Longton, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 5EB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)