School Chooser

St Anne's Catholic Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedRoman Catholic265 pupilsNurserySt HelensSt. Helens
School Chooser Score
19
Below
similar schools
Likely range 10 to 37
Out of 100. Better than 22% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, October 2022
Reached the expected level at 1135%England 63%
Attendance93.3%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families32%A bit more than most schools
Places44 spare265 pupils, 309 places
Pupils per teacher17.6School workforce census

St Anne's Catholic Primary School is a Roman Catholic school (voluntary aided) in St Helens for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 265 pupils and room for 309. About 32 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 19 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 22% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Monastery Lane, Sutton, St Helens, WA9 3SP01744 671909stannessutton.co.ukMrs Rachel Crolla headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 18 October 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Early years
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

26 children took the tests. Here is how they did against every state primary in England.

Reached the expected level at 1135%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level8%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score101.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score101.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 22%22%20172018: 38%38%20182019: 61%61%20192023: 60%60%20232024: 58%58%20242025: 35%35%2025
Since 2017: +13%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017St. HelensEngland
Pupils tested264346444537
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths35%58%60%61%38%22%63%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths8%12%2%9%7%0%8%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score101.0105.0104.0106.0103.0101.0105.2105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score101.0104.0101.0102.0101.099.0104.1104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score101.0103.0103.0107.0103.0102.0104.9105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard54%74%80%80%67%62%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard50%74%65%66%64%54%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)77%72%71%73%56%27%
Reading progressReading progress score+0.2+2.1-3.0-3.7
Maths progressMaths progress score-1.3-2.3-3.6-5.0
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged13%53%45%47%21%8%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged44%63%65%69%45%28%

There are no progress figures for 2025. That year group missed their Year 2 tests during Covid, so there was no starting point to measure from. Progress figures come back with the December 2026 results. Tests were cancelled altogether in 2020 and 2021.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At the end of primary school, 2025

Reached the expected level at 11Low-income pupils vs other pupils
13%44%
Gap 31 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
38%31%
Gap 7 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%8%
Gap 8 ptsEngland 5 pts
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published. As a Roman Catholic school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Plenty of spare places231 pupils for 315 places, 2024/25
73% full

84 places were empty (27% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have fallen by 11% since 2021/22, so places are getting easier to find.

Will my child get a place?

In 2025 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.

We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.

How places were given out for September 2025. Every child who applied got a place.

EntryPlacesPut it firstApplied at allHow far the last child livedSource
2025 Primary452549all offeredLA

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll265Census January 2026
Places30986% full
Pupils from low-income families31%32% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English15%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support32%85 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan6%16 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.011 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils9%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)33%£119,350 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls137 / 128
White British pupils62%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 21.7 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 26.6 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (46), emotional and mental health (17), Specific learning difficulty (10), Autistic spectrum disorder (7), Physical disability (5), Moderate learning difficulty (4).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll265246260264273285
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals31%30%31%29%21%18%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language15%15%15%14%9%10%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support36%28%24%27%28%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans5%2%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.3% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance93.3%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school21.0%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.92024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.5%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.7%5.8%7.2%7.0%4.1%3.9%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.3%4.1%4.6%5.4%3.1%2.9%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.5%1.7%2.5%1.7%1.0%1.0%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence21.0%17.0%22.5%23.4%9.6%7.2%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.91.21.13.71.1
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00100

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers14.5full-time equivalent, 17 people
Pupils per teacher17.6Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants7.6full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£51,002
Teachers who left in the year8%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies1
Sick days per teacher7.82024/25

Money

From the council school accounts, year to March 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other primary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£7,241England £7,738. Total £1.7m
Income per pupil£7,469England £7,697. Total £1.8m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,677England £3,480
Money in reserve3%Not much put by: £58k, £244 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out+£54kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,241spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m26512 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate76 per 1,000 people17% lower than the England average
Nearest bus stop260 mGerards Lane, 16 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest primary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Sutton Oak CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England810 m301Good 202344Compare
Sherdley Primary SchoolCouncil860 m429Good 202325Compare
Eaves Primary SchoolCouncil900 m233Good 202368Compare
Robins Lane Community Primary SchoolCouncil0.7 miles248Good 202036Compare
Willow Tree Primary SchoolAcademy0.8 miles172Requires improvement 202274Compare
Allanson Street Primary SchoolCouncil1.2 miles454Good 202447Compare
St Theresa's Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic1.2 miles209Report card 202650Compare
Holy Spirit Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic1.5 miles213Not inspected45Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Anne's Catholic Primary School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats22%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 19 is 25 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 6 · middle 45 · highest 98100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than St Anne's Catholic Primary School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Robins Lane Community Primary SchoolCouncil0.7 miles248Good 202036Compare
St Austin's Catholic Primary SchoolCatholic2.1 miles216Good 202226Compare
Rivington Primary SchoolCouncil2.8 miles234Good 202429Compare
Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic7.0 miles224Good 202440Compare
Knotty Ash Primary SchoolAcademy7.6 miles252Good 202257Compare
Broadgreen PrimaryFoundation8.4 miles246Good 202244Compare
St Andrew's Methodist Primary SchoolMethodist13.8 miles229Outstanding 202484Compare
Kearsley West Primary SchoolCouncil15.3 miles236Not inspected59Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 19 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 19% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 10 to 37. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years25%below
-0.11
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 26 pupils
Ofsted inspection18% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 3.9 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.04
DfE progress measure; 26 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.13
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.11
2024/25; 214 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%below
-0.06
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 26 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is St Anne's Catholic Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. St Anne's Catholic Primary School scores 19 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 22% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 10 to 37, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is St Anne's Catholic Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St Anne's Catholic Primary School good at its last full inspection on 18 October 2022.

How good are St Anne's Catholic Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 35% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 8% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Anne's Catholic Primary School have?

265 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 309 places, so it is 86% full.

Is St Anne's Catholic Primary School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 84 places were empty in 2024/25 (27% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at St Anne's Catholic Primary School?

Pupils were in school 93.3% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 21% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St Anne's Catholic Primary School?

The average class had 22.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 9% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Monastery Lane, Sutton, St Helens, WA9 3SP
Telephone
01744 671909
Website
www.stannessutton.co.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Rachel Crolla
Type of school
Roman Catholic school (voluntary aided) (Voluntary aided school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 3-11, with nursery
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of Liverpool
Local authority
St. Helens
Ward
Sutton North West
Constituency
St Helens South and Whiston
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
104805 · LAESTAB 3423414 · UKPRN 10074996

Where these figures come from