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OpenPrimaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 106492

St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell

Voluntary aided school · Wigan · WN5 7AA

Ages 4–11 · 347 pupils · Wigan

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

KS2 expected (RWM)

87%

Overall absence

4.3%

Admissions demand

1.00 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2022-04-28

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 2 (2023/24)

Expected standard (RWM)87%
Higher standard (RWM)13%
Avg scaled score — reading
109.0
Avg scaled score — maths
108.0
Avg scaled score — GPS
109.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence4.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)7.6%
Unauthorised0.8%
Authorised absence
3.5%
Severe absence (50%+)
0.3%
Enrolments in measure
341

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for primary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.00 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

44

Places offered

44

1st-preference offers

44

Total preferences (any rank)
112
Preferred offers (top 3)
44
Applications from outside LA
15
Offers to outside-LA applicants
2

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill86%

347 pupils · 405 places

Pupils on roll
347
Boys / girls
186 / 161
School capacity
405
Capacity fill
347 / 405 (86%)
Free school meals
9.5%
FSM pupils
33
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 4–11

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

0 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Archdiocese of Liverpool
Special classes
No Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Mr Gary Hayes

Location

Address
St James Road, Orrell
Postcode
WN5 7AA
Town
Wigan
County
Lancashire
Local authority
Wigan
District
Wigan
Constituency
Makerfield
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (primary), Ages 4–11, in Wigan, Wigan, 347 pupils on roll. Free school meals: 9.5%. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Archdiocese of Liverpool.

Open schools in Wigan
102
Primary schools in Wigan
70
Academies among open schools in Wigan
26% (27)
Open schools in WN5
19
Primary in WN5
12
Open schools in Wigan LA
144
Primary in Wigan LA
99

Nearby primary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in WiganNear WN5

  • Orrell Holgate Academy

    Ofsted: Improved significantly

    Academy converter · Primary

    Wigan · WN5 8SJ · Wigan

    Ages 4–11

    • KS283%
    • Absence4.3%
    • FSM18.7%
    • Demand0.91

    0.4 miles away

  • Orrell Lamberhead Green Academy

    Ofsted: Not judged

    Academy converter · Primary

    Wigan · WN5 0AW · Wigan

    Ages 4–11

    • KS269%
    • Absence7.5%
    • FSM40.4%
    • Demand1.02

    1.4 miles away

  • St John's CofE Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Wigan · WN5 0DT · Wigan

    Ages 4–11

    • KS267%
    • Absence8.2%
    • FSM40.0%
    • Demand1.00

    1.4 miles away

  • St Teresa's Catholic Primary School

    Ofsted: Good

    Voluntary aided school · Primary

    Upholland · WN8 0PY · Lancashire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS270%
    • Absence3.9%
    • FSM7.5%
    • Demand1.00

    1.5 miles away

  • Crawford Village Primary School

    Ofsted: School remains Outstanding

    Community school · Primary

    Skelmersdale · WN8 9QP · Lancashire

    Ages 3–11

    • KS2100%
    • Absence3.9%
    • FSM4.2%
    • Demand1.25

    1.6 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Mr Gary Hayes
Telephone
01942748455
Website
www.orrellsaintjames.wigan.sch.uk

Official links