Our Lady and All Saints Roman Catholic Primary School, Parbold

This is a small Catholic voluntary aided primary where academic ambition is paired with a close-knit feel. The latest Ofsted inspection confirmed an Outstanding judgement across all areas, including early years, with reading described as a central pillar from the start of nursery and Reception.

FindMySchool performance data places the school well above the England picture for primary outcomes. In 2024, 86.7% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with an England average of 62%. Higher standards are also unusually strong, with 50% reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths compared with an England average of 8%. (FindMySchool data, based on official results.)

For families, the main headline is fit. This is a Catholic school with faith woven into daily life and admissions, and it is also a school where expectations are explicit and routines are tight. If you want a smaller setting, strong early reading, and a values-driven culture, it is a compelling option.

The school’s public-facing tone is clear: faith, family, and growth. Its own mission statement frames the community as “a family in faith” that “rejoice, love and grow”, which gives you a sense of how the Catholic character is presented, not as a bolt-on, but as the organising idea.

Leadership is very visible in the way roles are combined. Mr Shaun Kearon is listed as headteacher and also holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead responsibility, alongside several curriculum and whole-school roles, which often happens in smaller primaries where staffing has to be flexible.

The most recent inspection also supports the “small school, high ambition” picture. Pupils are described as receiving an exceptional education, with learning structured so that pupils build secure subject knowledge they can apply across subjects. It is also the kind of report that reads like a mature school system rather than a one-off peak, with attendance systems highlighted and parental feedback described as strongly positive.

Key Stage 2 outcomes

This review uses FindMySchool rankings and measures (based on official data). On that basis, the school is ranked 600th in England and 6th locally (Wigan) for primary outcomes. That places it well above England average, in the top 10% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking).

The 2024 attainment profile is consistently high across the board (FindMySchool data):

• Reading, writing and maths combined expected standard: 86.7% (England average: 62%).

• Higher standard in reading, writing and maths: 50% (England average: 8%).

• Reading scaled score: 112

• Maths scaled score: 109.

• Grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) scaled score: 110.

• Science expected standard: 100% (England average: 82%).

For parents, the practical implication is that pupils are typically leaving Year 6 with secure fundamentals, not just in English and maths but also with a strong science baseline. In a small school, consistency matters, and these figures indicate strong whole-cohort performance rather than a single standout subject.

Early years as the foundation

Early years is not treated as a waiting room for “real school”. The nursery provision was established in January 2021 and expanded to include two-year-olds from September 2023, with continuous outdoor access and regular Forest School sessions referenced in the class overview.

Ofsted rated early years provision Outstanding, and the report explicitly links early reading to the earliest point of entry, describing exposure to a wide range of books and authors from the minute children enter early years.

Teaching is presented as knowledge-led and carefully sequenced. The latest inspection describes learning as structured so pupils build secure subject knowledge over time, and it highlights deep dives in early reading, mathematics and geography, which is often a sign that subject leadership and curriculum design are taken seriously rather than left to individual preference.

Reading is the clearest “signature” element. The report makes early reading a central feature and frames book choice as deliberate, used to build both love of reading and wider understanding. For families, that usually translates into frequent reading practice, consistent phonics expectations in the early years, and a school culture where books are normal rather than “extra”.

In a Catholic voluntary aided primary, values and curriculum often sit tightly together. You should expect Religious Education to have a meaningful footprint, and the wider curriculum to be taught through a lens of service, responsibility, and community contribution, particularly as pupils move into Key Stage 2.

As a primary, the next step is secondary transfer rather than “destinations” in the sixth-form sense. The most useful way to think about progression here is: how well prepared are pupils academically and socially for Year 7?

On academics, the Key Stage 2 outcomes suggest pupils tend to leave Year 6 with strong literacy and numeracy foundations (FindMySchool data). On personal development, Ofsted rated the school Outstanding and described the education as exceptional, with safeguarding arrangements effective. That combination generally supports a confident transition, particularly for pupils moving into a more demanding secondary environment.

For Catholic families, another layer is continuity of faith life. Families often look for a route into Catholic partner secondaries, and Lancashire secondary admissions documentation for South Lancashire references Catholic partner primaries in this area, which is relevant context when considering post-11 options.

This is a Lancashire local authority coordinated admissions process for Reception, with additional school-specific paperwork typical of voluntary aided Catholic primaries.

Reception entry timing for September 2026

For Reception entry in September 2027 in Lancashire, applications close on 15 January 2027, with offers issued on 16 April 2027. Offers for primary are typically released on the national offer day in April (commonly 16 April in 2026 materials).

The school’s own admissions page also makes the key point parents sometimes miss: you still have to apply even if your child attends the linked nursery, and the school indicates that you also need to complete its own admissions form alongside the Lancashire application route.

How competitive is it?

Local demand looks strong. In the admissions figures provided for the primary entry route, there were 40 applications for 13 offers, which equates to roughly 3.1 applications per place (FindMySchool data). That is consistent with the “small school, popular choice” profile.

Catholic identity and admissions criteria

As a voluntary aided Catholic school, the governing body is the admissions authority, and the admissions arrangements emphasise the school’s role in the mission of the Catholic Church and the importance of faith practice in the community served. In practice, for oversubscribed Catholic primaries this often means you should be prepared to evidence sacramental and parish connections where the policy requires it, and you should expect a supplementary information form to be part of the process.

Safeguarding is the non-negotiable baseline, and the latest inspection states that safeguarding arrangements are effective. In small primaries, pastoral support often relies on early identification and close communication with families. The inspection report also highlights attendance as a priority, with systems to track and respond quickly when pupils need support, alongside staff working effectively with families to improve attendance.

Mr Shaun Kearon is listed as the Designated Safeguarding Lead, which matters for parents because it indicates safeguarding leadership is directly connected to overall school leadership rather than delegated away.

In a Catholic setting, pastoral language is often framed through Gospel values and service. For many pupils, that can be grounding, with clear expectations around kindness, respect, and responsibility. For families less aligned with faith-based schooling, it can feel more directive.

For a small primary, the school is unusually specific about both sport and practical clubs in its published material.

Ofsted references opportunities including cross-country and swimming, which signals that physical education is more than token weekly sessions. For some children, those regular endurance-based and water-based activities become their “thing” in a way that can be harder to achieve in larger schools where competition for teams is higher.

The school’s clubs page (although dated in the snapshot available) gives an idea of the kind of programme it has run: Ukulele, Ocarina or Recorder, craft, athletics, rounders, and Lego sessions, plus a Scooting Stars activity. Even if the exact timetable shifts year to year, it shows the preference for hands-on, skill-based clubs rather than generic “sports club” labels.

Wraparound care also appears activity-led rather than purely supervisory. The breakfast and after-school club description mentions arts and crafts, role play, Lego and board games, and it explicitly welcomes children from nursery (pre-school year) to Year 6.

School day and wraparound care

The published school day begins with registration at 8:45am and ends at 3:15pm, totalling 32.5 hours per week. Breakfast club is available from 7:30am, and after-school care runs until 6:00pm.

Getting there

Parbold has a local railway station with facilities including station parking and drop-off points, which can help families commuting from nearby towns. For driving families, school-run congestion is typically the practical pinch-point in village primaries, so it is worth checking walking routes and whether you can consistently park legally and safely during drop-off and pick-up.

• Catholic life is central. This is not a “light touch” faith school in how it presents itself. Families who are not comfortable with faith being integrated into daily routines and the wider culture should read the admissions policy carefully and visit with questions prepared.

• Small school, shared responsibilities. Leadership and staffing roles are concentrated, which can be a strength, but it also means change in any key role can be felt quickly across the whole school.

• Competition for places. Recent application and offer figures indicate strong demand for a small number of places. If this is your first preference, you should plan alternatives carefully, not just emotionally but logistically. (FindMySchool admissions data.)

• Early years expansion. The early years provision has grown and now includes two-year-olds, which is attractive for continuity, but it also means parents should check how transition into Reception is handled and whether places in nursery influence, or do not influence, Reception admission.

Our Lady and All Saints is a high-performing Catholic primary with an unusually coherent “through line” from early years into Key Stage 2, especially around reading. Ofsted’s most recent inspection confirmed Outstanding across all areas, and FindMySchool data shows results that sit well above England averages.

It suits families who want a smaller, values-driven school where faith is integral and expectations are high, and who will actively engage with the voluntary aided admissions process. The limiting factor is admission rather than what follows.