St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale, Skelmersdale
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Skelmersdale. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in September 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 13th-highest of the 18 schools in Skelmersdale with published results, and 10,597th of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale in detail
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "At St Richard's, there is so much to celebrate. We are proud to offer a warm, nurturing, and faith-filled community where everyone learns to love and grow in Jesus. Our children are happy, enthusiastic learners who take great joy in their education."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include basketball, cross-country, dance, cooking, art, knitting and sewing.
Coming up: an open day on Monday 4 January 2027, an open day on Monday 11 January 2027, an open day on Monday 18 January 2027 and an open day on Tuesday 19 January 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Lancashire
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 64% of Year 6 pupils at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 76% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale as their first choice and 76 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 3 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale are Brookfield Park Primary School (0.3 miles, Requires improvement, 81% reading, 86% maths); Trinity Church of England/Methodist School (0.5 miles, Good, 59% reading, 59% maths); Crow Orchard Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and St Edmund's Catholic Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 50% reading, 63% maths).
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Brookfield Park Primary SchoolTrinity Church of England/Methodist SchoolCrow Orchard Primary SchoolSt Edmund's Catholic Primary School
Who goes there
In 2026, 15 pupils (6.5%) received SEN support and 13 (5.7%) 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 Rainford Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
5 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Liverpool Road (opposite), 100 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale issued 1 suspension, 0.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale are Lathom High School : A Technology College (1.1 miles) and Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School (1.2 miles).
Lathom High School : A Technology CollegeOur Lady Queen of Peace 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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from June 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School is a calm and welcoming place. Pupils enjoy learning and spending their social time together. They learn how to be patient and kind. Pupils develop positive relationships with each other and with staff. They are keen to make the most of the wide range of opportunities that are on offer at school.
Pupils are proud of their many leadership roles. They carry these out with enthusiasm. For example, older pupils act as buddies and prefects at lunchtimes for younger pupils. Some pupils organise clubs and other activities for the rest of the school and the wider community, such as 'star' bakers, Minnie Vinnies and clubs that reflect pupils' interests.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
The curriculum is ambitious and well organised. Since the previous inspection, the school has focused on ensuring that the curriculum defines what all pupils need to learn to be ready for their next stages of education. As a result, teachers from the Nursery Year to Year 6 know precisely what to focus on with their classes.
Teaching staff are well trained. They use effective and consistent approaches when delivering the curriculum. For example, teachers provide pupils with regular opportunities to practise and recall their prior learning. Established routines such as these help pupils to build up their knowledge more effectively.
From Ofsted's September 2024 ungraded inspection report: the opening paragraphs of each section, quoted word for word. Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Outstanding at its June 2013 inspection - unchanged since its previous inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
26.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 76% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 83% to 75% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.8
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
9
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
11th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
22nd May 2026
22 May 2026
15th May 2026
15 May 2026
From St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale.
- Include Me 2 West Lancashire460m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 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
- 9
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
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What the report includes for St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale:
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- Applications, first choices and offers at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 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
94%
Near capacity
197 pupils
210 places
13 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Skelmersdale
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Skelmersdale
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(5)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
15
SEN Support
13
EHC Plans
12.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
230
Total Pupils
117
Boys
113
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
23.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£51,345
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,600
Per pupil
£1293k
Total funding
£77k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
6.1%
Overall absence
17.9%
Persistent absence
179
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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
Questions parents ask about St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale
What are SATs results like at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
Of the pupils at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 64% reached the expected standard in reading and 75% did so in maths.
What is St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale's Ofsted rating?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale's most recent Ofsted inspection, in September 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
No fixed boundary. When St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
Classes at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale average 24.8 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale has around 230 pupils on roll. 27% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
6.1% of sessions were missed at St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale in 2024/25. 17.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club within a kilometre of St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale: Include Me 2 West Lancashire (460m away, 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 9 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 7 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 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 Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale?
St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale is at Sandy Lane, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8LQ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)