St Thomas CofE Primary School
Hodnet Drive, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8PQOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
St Thomas CofE Primary School is a primary school in Wigan for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 136 schools in Wigan. It ranks 36th of 68 primary schools in Wigan. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2019.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 April 2019, report published 13 May 2019
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 20 June 2024
Pupils are happy learning and playing at this caring school. They work hard, knowing that staff have high expectations of their achievement. Most pupils achieve well in most subjects. Pupils benefit from the very positive relationships that staff have developed with them. They enjoy learning, which staff make sure is interesting and full of fun. From the Reception Year through to Year 6, they routinely discuss learning in pairs and use these opportunities well to clarify their ideas and help each other. Pupils talked knowledgeably about what they have learned from the many educational visits that the school organises to enhance the curriculum. For example, Year 1 excitedly recounted their experience of a school trip to Manchester Airport when they were learning about the history of flight. Pupils understand and appreciate the school's new clear and simple rules, rewards and sanctions to encourage the best behaviour. They enjoy well-established routines. Most behave very well. Most pupils attend activities, particularly sports, which staff arrange for them outside lesson time. They proudly take on responsibilities, such as being house captains and playground buddies.
What the school should improve
- The school has introduced some subject curriculums very recently. In these subjects, the transition between old and new curriculums has resulted in gaps in pupils' learning, including how topics relate to each other. The school should embed new curriculums to address gaps in pupils' knowledge and help them to make appropriate links.
- At times, the way that teachers explain and exemplify the meaning of new and challenging vocabulary is not clear enough. As a result, pupils' misconceptions about what some words mean sometimes have a negative impact on their understanding. In this respect, the school's increased curriculum expectations sometimes are not realised. The school should review how teachers explain and exemplify more sophisticated vocabulary so that the implementation of new curriculums realises their heightened ambition.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
29 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
174 pupils on roll, with places for 210
Schools near St Thomas CofE Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Oswald's Catholic Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted: Good | 52% met the expected standard |
| St Wilfrids Catholic Primary School | 0.5 miles | Report card: Expected standard | 63% met the expected standard |
| R L Hughes Primary School | 0.6 miles | Ofsted: Good | 78% met the expected standard |
| Nicol Mere School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 97% met the expected standard |
| Bryn St Peter's CofE Primary School | 1 mile | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | 76% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mrs Leanne Cowley
- Phone
- 01942201107
- Address
- Hodnet Drive, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan, WN4 8PQ
- Local authority
- Wigan
- URN
- 106465
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.