Standish St Wilfrid's Church of England Primary Academy Review 2026: High-achieving Church of England primary with strong Early Years

A large, high-performing primary in Standish with a clear reputation for academic strength, especially in reading, writing and mathematics. In 2024, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the England average of 62%, and 58% reached the higher standard compared with 8% across England.

The latest Ofsted inspection, in January 2022, graded the school Outstanding in every area, including Early Years.

As a Church of England academy, the school combines a Christian ethos with a relatively distinctive admissions model for a state primary, including a parish link and supplementary forms when places are tight.

This is a big primary by local standards, serving ages 3 to 11, and it operates with the confidence of a school that expects pupils to work hard and succeed. External review evidence points to pupils who feel safe, enjoy strong relationships with staff, and take pride in contributing to school life through roles such as reading companions and the pupil leadership team.

The culture also comes through in the way enrichment is woven into the day rather than treated as an optional extra. The school’s choir, music-making, and competitive sport, including swimming, are presented as normal features of pupil life, not add-ons for a small minority.

Leadership is framed across two roles on the school’s own website, with Mrs K. Newman listed as Interim Headteacher and Mr Stuart Colothan as the substantive Executive Headteacher, alongside his trust role. For parents, the practical implication is that day-to-day leadership and strategic leadership are not identical functions, which can be a strength in a large school provided communication stays clear.

Nursery provision is part of the picture, and pupils are described as immersed in books from the start, with early language development and phonics treated as priorities.

The headline story is sustained, very high performance at the end of Key Stage 2. In 2024, 94% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with 62% across England. The higher standard figure is also striking, with 58% reaching the higher standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with an England average of 8%.

Ranked 50th in England and 2nd in Wigan for primary outcomes (FindMySchool ranking based on official data), the school sits among the highest-performing in England (top 2%).

The wider set of measures supports the same conclusion. Expected-standard rates in reading (95%), maths (96%), grammar, punctuation and spelling (94%), and science (97%) indicate that strong attainment is broad rather than limited to one subject area.

For parents, the implication is straightforward. Pupils who enjoy an academically purposeful primary, with clear expectations and consistent routines, are likely to thrive. Families looking for a softer pace, or those cautious about pressure near Year 6, should explore how the school communicates challenge and support in practice.

(When comparing schools locally, FindMySchool’s Local Hub and Comparison Tool can help you view these outcomes side-by-side rather than relying on reputation alone.)

Teaching is described in external review evidence as highly trained, subject-confident, and structured around carefully sequenced curriculum content so that pupils build knowledge steadily across subjects.

Early reading appears to be a defining feature. Children in Nursery are described as immersed in books, with vocabulary development prioritised early; phonics teaching is positioned as immediate from Reception, and additional support is planned for pupils who struggle with reading so they can catch up quickly.

For older pupils, the curriculum ambition extends beyond English and maths. External evidence highlights pupils speaking knowledgeably about ideas such as democracy and its historical origins, which suggests that foundation subjects are taught with real content rather than as occasional projects.

For pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities, the documented approach is early identification and access to the full curriculum, with the stated expectation that additional needs should not be a barrier to learning.

As a primary with Nursery, the main destination question is transition to secondary school after Year 6. The school is explicit, through external review evidence, that Year 6 pupils are prepared for the demands of secondary education.

Because secondary transfer patterns are shaped heavily by home address and parental preference, it is sensible for families to ask at open events about typical destinations from Standish and surrounding areas, and about how the school supports transition, particularly for pupils moving to larger secondary settings.

From a readiness perspective, the school’s combination of high attainment, strong reading culture, and pupil responsibility roles (such as reading companions and leadership positions) is aligned with what many secondary schools value: independence, sustained attention, and confidence in literacy.

Reception admissions are co-ordinated through Wigan Council, with applications for September 2026 entry due by 15 January 2026 and offers released on 16 April 2026.

The school’s own determined admissions arrangements for 2026 to 2027 set out a Published Admission Number of 75, alongside an agreement to admit up to 90 pupils to Reception in September 2026.

Demand data indicates a competitive picture. For the most recent intake data provided, there were 140 applications for 76 offers, equating to around 1.84 applications per place, and the school is recorded as oversubscribed.

As a Church of England school, the oversubscription criteria include specific faith-linked elements. The admissions arrangements explain that families who want the school to consider worship attendance should complete the supplementary form, with a clergy reference form where applicable, and return it to the school.

Distance can still matter as a tie-breaker, but this is not a simple “nearest wins” school in the way many community primaries are. Parents should read the criteria carefully, and use FindMySchool’s Map Search to understand practical travel distance and day-to-day logistics while also checking how the faith criteria apply to their family circumstances.

A consistent theme in external evidence is that pupils feel safe, staff know families well, and concerns are handled promptly. Pupils are also described as having clear routes to support, including peer roles that encourage listening and looking out for others, such as wellbeing-focused pupil responsibilities.

Ofsted confirmed that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

Pastoral care in practice, in a large primary, often hinges on routines and staff consistency. The school’s emphasis on staff training, vigilance, and working with external agencies where needed suggests a systematic approach rather than one reliant on individual personalities.

The most distinctive enrichment details come from external review evidence and point to a school where participation is expected. Music and performance sit alongside competitive sport, with pupils described as singing confidently in choir, playing instruments, and taking part in a swimming team that has achieved regional and national competition success.

Pupil responsibility is also positioned as a real strand of wider development. Roles such as reading companions and membership of the pupil leadership team give pupils structured ways to contribute, which tends to build confidence in public speaking, listening, and teamwork.

Even small details matter to children, and the school’s named rabbits, Murphy and Kipling, appear as part of pupil roles, including opportunities for pupils to read to them. The practical implication is that reading is made social and enjoyable, especially for younger or hesitant readers, and it is reinforced beyond formal lessons.

Wraparound provision also functions as an enrichment layer. The school’s Kidz Klub runs before and after school during term time, with a structured activity offer.

The school day for Reception to Year 6 runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm, with morning registration closing at 9.00am.

Wraparound care is available via Kidz Klub, which operates 7.45am to 8.45am and 3.15pm to 6.00pm during term time.

For travel, most families will be thinking in terms of walkability and short car journeys within Standish and nearby areas. Because the school can be oversubscribed and uses criteria that include parish links as well as distance tie-breaks, it is sensible to plan for the full five-day routine rather than assuming that occasional longer journeys will be manageable during winter months and in peak traffic.

• Competition for places. With 140 applications for 76 offers in the most recent intake data provided and an oversubscribed status, admission can be the limiting factor even for local families.

• Faith-linked admissions criteria. This is a Church of England school with supplementary documentation for families who want worship attendance considered. That can suit families who actively value the church link, but it is important to understand how criteria apply before relying on a place.

• A large-school feel. Size supports breadth, leadership roles, and a bigger peer group, but some children prefer smaller settings where everyone knows everyone. Ask how the school keeps younger pupils anchored, especially at Nursery and Reception transition points.

• High attainment culture. The academic picture is exceptionally strong. For many pupils that is motivating; for others it can feel intense near Year 6 if they are anxious about tests. The best way to judge fit is to ask how the school balances challenge with reassurance.

Standish St Wilfrid’s Church of England Primary Academy combines very high Key Stage 2 outcomes with a structured approach to reading, pupil responsibility, and enrichment. The admissions model is more distinctive than many state primaries because parish and worship links can matter when the school is oversubscribed.

Who it suits: families seeking a high-achieving primary with a clear Christian identity, strong reading culture, and plenty of opportunities for pupils to take on responsibility, and who are prepared to engage carefully with the admissions process and timelines.