St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow, Barrow-in-Furness

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders place pupils' personal development and wellbeing at the heart of their work."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have successfully resolved the weaknesses in the previous curriculum offer."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have high expectations for children in early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders quickly check if pupils need extra help or support when they join the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders, including governors, accurately understand the needs of the school and the community that it serves."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils do not consistently attain as well as other pupils nationally in the end of Year 6 tests and assessment."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that the gaps in pupils' knowledge, especially older pupils, are reduced so that these pupils attain well by the end of Year 6 and are ready for the next stage of their education"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers address errors and misconceptions in pupils' work more effectively so that pupils build future learning on a secure body of knowledge"; "Leaders should refine their checks on teaching so that they can measure the impact of their improvement work on pupils' achievement, especially in closing gaps for older pupils".

In its own words: "I am privileged to become the first male Headteacher of St Pius X Catholic Primary School & Little Lambs Nursery, from September 2017."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to St Pius X Catholic Primary School & Little Lambs Nursery. It is a privilege to serve as Headteacher of our wonderful school."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, gymnastics, choir, guitar, STEM and book club.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care, from £3 per session.

In 2025, 56% of Year 6 pupils at St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 74% and 73% in Westmorland and Furness and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 81% in reading and 87% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow as their first choice and 31 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 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 Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow are Ormsgill Nursery and Primary School (0.3 miles, 60% reading, 48% maths); Victoria Academy (0.6 miles, Outstanding, 83% reading, 79% maths); Victoria Infant and Nursery School (0.7 miles, Good); and St Paul's CofE Junior School (0.8 miles, Good, 89% reading, 61% maths).

St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 3 schools.

St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow is one of 16 schools run by Mater Christi Multi-Academy Trust, an academy trust.

6.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 32 pupils (15.2%) received SEN support and 17 (8.1%) 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.

St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow had 15 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Barrow-in-Furness Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Hotel (at), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 5th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow issued 2 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to St Pius X Catholic Primary School, Barrow are Chetwynde School (1.2 miles); and St Bernards Catholic High School, Barrow (1.4 miles).