School Chooser

St Sebastian's RC Primary School

Primary · ages 3-11MixedRoman Catholic227 pupilsNursery Free breakfast clubSalford
School Chooser Score
20
Below
similar schools
Likely range 9 to 42
Out of 100. Better than 18% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodConfirmed by Ofsted, April 2024
Reached the expected level at 1152%England 63%
Attendance92.9%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families56%Far more than most schools
Places9 spare227 pupils, 236 places
Pupils per teacher15.8School workforce census

St Sebastian's RC Primary School is a Roman Catholic school (voluntary aided) in Salford for boys and girls aged 3 to 11. It has 227 pupils and room for 236. About 56 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 20 out of 100. That puts it below schools like it, ahead of 18% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2024.

Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ET0161 518 7078stsebastiansprimary.co.ukMrs Caroline Doyle headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

A shorter visit on 11 April 2024 found nothing to change the school's grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A shorter follow-up visit found nothing to change that. The last full inspection was before September 2019, which is as far back as Ofsted's public records go, so we can't show its date or the grades for each area.

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1152%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level3%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score104.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score102.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 44%44%20172018: 55%55%20182019: 70%70%20192023: 67%67%20232024: 53%53%20242025: 52%52%2025
Since 2017: +8%Declining overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017SalfordEngland
Pupils tested293030272927
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths52%53%67%70%55%44%61%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths3%3%20%11%14%7%7%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score104.0104.0105.0104.0103.0100.0105.3105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score102.0101.0104.0106.0103.0100.0104.4104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score104.0107.0106.0107.0106.0102.0105.8105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard66%73%70%78%69%56%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard59%57%70%89%79%67%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)62%70%73%81%83%59%
Reading progressReading progress score-0.5+0.4-2.3-5.6
Maths progressMaths progress score-3.0+1.4-1.8-4.8
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged29%38%71%70%57%42%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged83%71%63%71%50%50%

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. 2 of the 4 gaps are 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
29%83%
Gap 54 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
54%50%
Gap 4 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Pupils learning English vs all pupils
38%52%
Gap 14 ptsEngland 4 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%3%
Gap 3 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.

Nearly full205 pupils for 210 places, 2024/25
98% full

Fewer than one place in twenty is empty, so in most years more families apply than there are places. Living close by, or already having a child here, makes a real difference. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

In 2026 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 2026. Every child who applied got a place (30 offers for 30 places).

EntryPlacesApplied at allGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary306230all offeredLA
2025 Primary3051300.7 milesLA
2024 Primary307030410 mLA
2023 Primary3048301.3 milesLA

The distances are the council's own, usually measured in a straight line from home to the school gate. If the distance is getting shorter each year, the school is getting harder to get into. See which councils we have this data for.

What a home within 790 m of the school costs

Typical sale price within 790 m of the school£269,995half sold for £185k to £315k
Homes sold109December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district+17%a typical home in the district sells for £230,500

Every home sold within that distance of the school (the typical cut-off over the last three years), of any type, from HM Land Registry records. If homes here cost more than the district average, that is the price people pay to live close enough to get in.

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 roll227Census January 2026
Places23696% full
Pupils from low-income families56%56% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English51%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support29%66 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan2%4 pupils with a plan
Average class size28.37 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils0%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)57%£178,250 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls115 / 112
White British pupils31%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 28.3 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 29.3 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: language and communications needs (42), emotional and mental health (9), Autistic spectrum disorder (7), Moderate learning difficulty (6), Physical disability (2), Specific learning difficulty (2).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll227233230231232217
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals56%56%54%57%54%53%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language51%48%43%41%38%37%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support25%22%21%21%21%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%2%2%1%1%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 92.9% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance92.9%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school22.6%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils2.62024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.7%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence7.1%6.6%6.9%6.8%6.4%4.1%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.4%4.3%4.5%4.4%3.2%2.5%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.7%2.4%2.4%2.4%3.2%1.6%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence22.6%23.1%27.7%27.8%20.7%10.9%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate2.60.00.00.90.0
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00100

Staff and money

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

Teachers14.4full-time equivalent, 15 people
Pupils per teacher15.8Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants13.1full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£48,250
Teachers who left in the year15%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher0.42022/23

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£7,382England £7,738. Total £1.7m
Income per pupil£7,405England £7,697. Total £1.7m
Spent on teachers per pupil£3,225England £3,480
Money in reserve10%A healthy amount put by: £165k, £707 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out+£5,266it took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£7,382spent 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 m112 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£230,000Salford
Nearest bus stop110 mWithycombe Place, 24 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
St George's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England180 m219Good 20235Compare
Lower Kersal Community Primary SchoolCouncil660 m245Good 202320Compare
St Boniface RC Primary SchoolRoman Catholic0.7 miles219No overall grade 202515Compare
Holy Family VA RC Primary SchoolCatholic0.8 miles238No overall grade 202533Compare
River View Community Primary SchoolCouncil0.8 miles521Good 202321Compare
Summerville Primary SchoolCouncil0.9 miles197Good 202221Compare
Lark Hill Community Primary SchoolCouncil1.1 miles629Report card 20263Compare
Willow Tree Primary SchoolCouncil1.1 miles469No overall grade 202455Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Sebastian's RC 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.

Beats18%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the bottom quarter of its group. Its score of 20 is 28 points below the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 4 · middle 48 · highest 96100

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 Sebastian's RC 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
Brentnall AcademyAcademy1.1 miles184Inadequate 202251Compare
Oasis Academy AspinalAcademy5.8 miles224Good 202273Compare
Greenfield Primary AcademyAcademy9.3 miles221Good 202348Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 20 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 20% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 9 to 42. 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%in line
-0.08
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 29 pupils
Ofsted inspection20%in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 2.4 years old
Progress pupils make20%in line
-0.07
DfE progress measure; 29 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.15
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%well below
-0.13
2024/25; 186 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.01
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 29 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 Sebastian's RC Primary School a good school?

The figures are weak. St Sebastian's RC Primary School scores 20 out of 100. That is below schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 18% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 9 to 42, 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 Sebastian's RC Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St Sebastian's RC Primary School good at its last full inspection on 11 April 2024.

How good are St Sebastian's RC Primary School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 52% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 3% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Sebastian's RC Primary School have?

227 pupils aged 3 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 236 places, so it is 96% full.

Is St Sebastian's RC Primary School oversubscribed?

Often. Fewer than one place in twenty was empty in 2024/25, so popular year groups fill up.

What is attendance like at St Sebastian's RC Primary School?

Pupils were in school 92.9% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 23% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St Sebastian's RC Primary School?

The average class had 28.3 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. No class had more than 30 pupils.

Does St Sebastian's RC Primary School have a breakfast club?

Yes. It is on the government's free breakfast club programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school.

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

Contact and details

Address
Douglas Green, Salford, M6 6ET
Telephone
0161 518 7078
Website
www.stsebastiansprimary.co.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Caroline Doyle
Free breakfast club
Yes: on the government's programme, so every pupil can have a free half-hour breakfast club before school (listed since September 2026).
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, Diocese of Salford
Local authority
Salford
Ward
Pendleton & Charlestown
Constituency
Salford
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
105963 · LAESTAB 3553609 · UKPRN 10070710

Where these figures come from