School Chooser

St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School

Primary · ages 4-11MixedChurch of England216 pupilsWarringtonWigan
School Chooser Score
41
In line with
similar schools
Likely range 19 to 68
Out of 100. Better than 68% of the 50 schools most like it. Getting better year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, February 2020
Reached the expected level at 1167%England 63%
Attendance93.8%England 94.8%
Pupils from low-income families33%A bit more than most schools
PlacesFull216 pupils, 210 places
Pupils per teacher24.5School workforce census

St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School is a Church of England school (voluntary aided) in Warrington for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. It has 216 pupils, 6 more than it has places for. About 33 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 41 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 68% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2020.

Church Street, Golborne, Warrington, WA3 3TH01942 728153golbornesaintthomas.wigan.sch.ukMrs Joanne Woods headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 26 February 2020, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall. A later, shorter visit on 26 March 2025 said: “Standards maintained”.

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

This inspection is more than 6 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.

Earlier inspections (1)
DateTypeOutcome
26 March 2025UngradedStandards maintained

Results

Year 6 results (SATs), summer 2025

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

Reached the expected level at 1167%
England 63%
Official name: Expected standard in reading, writing and maths
Working above the expected level13%
England 8%
Official name: Higher standard in reading, writing and maths
Reading score103.0
England 105.6
Official name: Reading average scaled score
Maths score106.0
England 104.6
Official name: Maths average scaled score
Trend
Reached the expected level at 11
2017 to 2025
2017: 54%54%20172018: 52%52%20182019: 68%68%20192023: 40%40%20232024: 59%59%20242025: 67%67%2025
Since 2017: +13%Improving overall
All Year 6 measures, year by year
Measure202520242023201920182017WiganEngland
Pupils tested303230312724
Reached the expected level at 11Expected standard in reading, writing and maths67%59%40%68%52%54%66%63%
Working above the expected levelHigher standard in reading, writing and maths13%6%7%3%4%8%10%8%
Reading scoreReading average scaled score103.0103.0100.0102.0103.0101.0105.7105.6
Maths scoreMaths average scaled score106.0104.0102.0104.0101.0102.0105.4104.6
Grammar and spelling scoreGPS average scaled score104.0102.099.0103.0103.0103.0105.6105.2
Expected level: readingReading expected standard77%72%60%71%74%71%
Expected level: mathsMaths expected standard77%75%60%84%59%63%
Expected level: writingWriting expected standard (teacher assessed)70%78%53%81%74%71%
Reading progressReading progress score-2.4+1.1+2.9+0.2
Maths progressMaths progress score-0.9+2.3+1.8+0.7
Expected level: low-income pupilsExpected standard, disadvantaged30%23%22%40%27%55%
Expected level: other pupilsExpected standard, non-disadvantaged85%84%48%81%69%54%

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
30%85%
Gap 55 ptsEngland 21 pts
Reached the expected level at 11Boys vs girls
59%77%
Gap 18 ptsEngland 5 pts
Reached the higher level at 11Low-income pupils vs all pupils
0%13%
Gap 13 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 Church of England school it may put families of that faith first. Check the school's own admissions rules.

Full213 pupils for 207 places, 2024/25
103% full

The school is full, with 6 more pupils than it has places for. More families apply than can get in, so things like how close you live and whether an older brother or sister is already here decide who gets a place. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.

Will my child get a place?

The last child to get a place lived 970 m away in 2026. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils, faith and other priority groups are placed first. After that, the closer you live, the better your chances. Type in your postcode to see how far away you are.

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. More children applied than there were places. The last place went to a child living 970 m from the school. Living closer than that didn't guarantee a place, but living much further away meant missing out that year.

EntryPlacesGot a placeHow far the last child livedSource
2026 Primary3030970 mLA

What a home within 970 m of the school costs

Typical sale price within 970 m of the school£190,000half sold for £140k to £265k
Homes sold279December 2023 to December 2025, Land Registry
Compared with the district-3%a typical home in the district sells for £195,000

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 roll216Census January 2026
Places210103% full
Pupils from low-income families33%33% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English10%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support13%29 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan3%7 pupils with a plan
Average class size31.06 classes, January 2026; England 25.4
Classes with more than 30 pupils50%Infant classes are capped at 30 by law; England 10%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)31%£103,850 extra funding in 2026/27; England 24%
Boys and girls131 / 85
White British pupils87%

Infant classes (Reception to Year 2) average 29.5 pupils (England 25.5); junior classes (Years 3 to 6) average 31.8 (England 27.3).

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (14), language and communications needs (8), SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need (6), emotional and mental health (6), Moderate learning difficulty (1), Specific learning difficulty (1).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll216213218214207204
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals33%32%34%35%36%35%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language10%10%8%8%2%2%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support14%14%10%14%14%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%2%2%1%2%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 93.8% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 94.8%.

Attendance93.8%
England 94.8%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school17.2%
England 12.8%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils10.32024/25, 1 permanent exclusion
Missed without permission2.2%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence6.3%6.8%7.5%7.1%4.6%4.4%5.2%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence4.0%3.6%4.4%4.7%3.3%2.6%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.2%3.2%3.1%2.4%1.3%1.8%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence17.2%17.4%28.2%22.8%11.2%8.1%12.8%
SuspensionsSuspension rate10.36.46.14.45.4
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions10010

Staff and money

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

Teachers8.8full-time equivalent, 9 people
Pupils per teacher24.5Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers100%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants9.8full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£52,190
Teachers who left in the year11%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher4.52024/25

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£6,600England £7,738. Total £1.4m
Income per pupil£6,573England £7,697. Total £1.4m
Spent on teachers per pupil£2,789England £3,480
Money in reserve10%A healthy amount put by: £138k, £650 per pupil. England 6%
Money in against money out-£5,710it spent more than it took in this year
Where the money goes£6,600spent 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

Local crime rate0 per 1,000 people100% lower than the England average
Typical house price£195,000Wigan
Nearest bus stop140 mChurch Green Gardens, 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
All Saints Catholic Primary School, Golborne, WiganRoman Catholic310 m250Not inspected68Compare
Golborne Community Primary SchoolAcademy500 m373Good 202373Compare
Lowton West Primary SchoolCouncil920 m428Good 202265Compare
St Luke's CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England1.0 miles212Good 202393Compare
St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, LowtonRoman Catholic1.1 miles212Good 202356Compare
St Wilfrids Catholic Primary SchoolRoman Catholic1.5 miles187Report card 202644Compare
Lowton Junior and Infant SchoolFoundation1.5 miles199No overall grade 202523Compare
St Thomas CofE Primary SchoolChurch of England1.7 miles174Good 202436Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School with the 47 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 47 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats68%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 41 is 9 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 0 · middle 32 · highest 100100

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 41 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 41% of primary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 19 to 68. 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
-0.10
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 30 pupils
Ofsted inspection12% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.01
Ofsted grade, 6.5 years old
Progress pupils make20%below
-0.13
DfE progress measure; 30 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well above
+0.19
results and attendance rising year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%below
-0.07
2024/25; 192 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.00
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 30 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 Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School a good school?

It is about average. St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School scores 41 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 68% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 19 to 68, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.

What is St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School good at its last full inspection on 26 February 2020. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.

How good are St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School's SATs results?

In summer 2025, 67% of Year 6 children reached the expected level in reading, writing and maths. Across England it was 63%. 13% went further and reached the higher level.

How many pupils does St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School have?

216 pupils aged 4 to 11 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 210 places, so it is 103% full.

Is St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School oversubscribed, and how far away can you live?

Yes. For September 2026 the last place went to a child living 970 m away. Children in care, brothers and sisters of current pupils and other priority groups come before distance, so the cut-off moves every year.

What is attendance like at St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School?

Pupils were in school 93.8% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 94.8%. 17% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at St Thomas CofE Junior and Infant School?

The average class had 31.0 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 25.4. 50% 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
Church Street, Golborne, Warrington, WA3 3TH
Telephone
01942 728153
Website
www.golbornesaintthomas.wigan.sch.uk
Headteacher
Mrs Joanne Woods
Type of school
Church of England school (voluntary aided) (Voluntary aided school, local authority maintained schools)
Phase
Primary school, ages 4-11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Church of England, Diocese of Liverpool
Local authority
Wigan
Ward
Golborne & Lowton West
Constituency
Leigh and Atherton
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
URN
106487 · LAESTAB 3593379 · UKPRN 10068653

Where these figures come from