St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School, St Helens
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in St Helens. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in March 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in July 2024 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 2nd-highest of the 36 schools in St Helens with published results, and 1,534th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 101% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to St. Helens (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 90% of Year 6 pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 90% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 76% and 74% in St. Helens and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (87% in reading, 90% in maths).
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School as their first choice and 86 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 Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School are Bleak Hill Primary School (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 89% reading, 76% maths); Rivington Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 78% reading, 74% maths); Queen's Park CofE/Urc Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 84% reading, 84% maths); and St Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Devon Street (0.8 miles, Good, 70% reading, 67% maths).
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Bleak Hill Primary SchoolRivington Primary SchoolQueen's Park CofE/Urc Primary SchoolSt Teresa's Catholic Primary School, Devon Street
Who goes there
8.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 28 pupils (13.5%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is St Helens Central Rail Station, about 1.5 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Malt House Court (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School stands in is among the 10% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School are Cowley International College (0.5 miles) and De La Salle School (0.8 miles).
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 · 2 years agoThis judgement is from March 2020, 6 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
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted's report, in its own words
What is it like to attend this school?
Pupils enjoy attending this vibrant and caring school. They benefit from a vast array of activities, which the school organises for them beyond the school day. Pupils spoke enthusiastically about everyone having a chance to perform for others, including in high-profile venues. They appreciate being able to choose between so many sports and regularly competing within and outside the school at their own level.
The impeccable conduct of pupils and strong attitudes to learning throughout the school begin in the Nursery Year. Children learn to listen intently, follow instructions, share with others and discuss in pairs and groups. Pupils' very positive behaviour is underpinned by their understanding and demonstration of the school's values, including cooperation. Pupils spoke knowledgeably about showing respect for people who are different from themselves.
What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?
In recent years, the school has improved the curriculum. In all key stages, the curriculum is ambitious for all, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND. In most subjects, the school has clearly set out what pupils should learn and in which order. However, in some subjects this information lacks detail, with too much being left for individual teachers to decide. This makes it difficult for the school to monitor the impact of its intended curriculum on pupils' achievement. The lack of detail in some subjects also results in some unnecessary repetition and some gaps in learning as pupils move up the school.
Staff who teach early reading have the knowledge and skills necessary to implement the reading curriculum expertly. In the Nursery Year, children enjoy listening to stories and following words and pictures in books. Staff make sure that the books that pupils read match their phonics knowledge. They regularly check pupils' learning and use this information to help those who are struggling. By the end of Year 1, almost all pupils read with confidence, accuracy and understanding.
From Ofsted's July 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 Good at its March 2020 inspection.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management, Early years.
At a Glance
8.7%
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 remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 90% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.6
Avg class size
28.7
Infant (KS1)
30.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Newsletter No. 5, Friday 2nd October 2026
2 Oct 2026
Newsletter No. 4, Friday 25th September 2026
25 Sep 2026
Newsletter No. 3, Friday 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Newsletter No. 2, Firday 11th September 2026
11 Sep 2026
Newsletter No. 1 04.09.2026
4 Sep 2026
Newsletter No. 39, Friday 17th July 2026
17 Jul 2026
From St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is in St. Helens; for families living there:
Apply to St. Helens for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 19
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 14 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 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 Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Will you get a place at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School.
- St. Helens publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in St. Helens 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
101%
Over capacity
211 pupils
210 places
1 pupil over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - St Helens
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for St Helens
Across St. Helens council
Places available
2,180
Applications
1,809
Got 1st preference
90.3%
Got preferred school
97.7%
All primary applications across St. Helens council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(6)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
28
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
15.9%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
207
Total Pupils
110
Boys
97
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
11
Teachers
18.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,266
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,095
Per pupil
£1175k
Total funding
£32k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
3.5%
Overall absence
6.0%
Persistent absence
182
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 Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
Questions parents ask about St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 90% reached the expected standard in reading and 90% did so in maths.
What is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in July 2024, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in March 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is oversubscribed, St. Helens allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School was full in 2025, at 100% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
Classes at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School average 29.6 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School has around 207 pupils on roll. 9% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
3.5% of sessions were missed at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School in 2024/25. 6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
Apply through St. Helens's coordinated admissions process, naming St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School 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.
How many road collisions happen near St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 19 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 14 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 St. Helens is 11.5 (the median across 80 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School?
St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School is at Rainford Road, Windle, St Helens, Merseyside, WA10 6BX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)