Best primary schools in Runcorn and Widnes according to Ofsted

Parents have until the end of today, Monday, to choose their preferences for which schools in Runcorn and Widnes they would like their children to attend.

A choice that does not come easily for most and takes much consideration.

We have compiled a list of primary schools in Runcorn and Widnes which have the best Ofsted ratings, scoring the highest grades of either Outstanding or Good.

The education regulators use a four-point grading scale for inspection judgements:

These are:

Grade 1: outstanding

Grade 2: good

Grade 3: requires improvement

Grade 4: inadequate

St Bede's Catholic Infant School – ‘Outstanding’

This Leigh Avenue school received the highest grading in its latest inspection in October last year.

The report began, “Pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), flourish at St Bede’s Catholic Infant School. They more than rise to meet the schools’ high expectations for their academic and personal development. Pupils fully live out the school’s motto of ‘Learn to love; love to learn’. They achieve exceptionally well.”

Pewithall School – ‘Outstanding’

This Runcorn school was last inspected back in November 2013.

A report said: “This is a very happy school. Its overall performance has been maintained at an outstanding level over a significant period of time. The school is rightly highly regarded by parents and the local community.”

Victoria Road Primary School – ‘Good’

This Runcorn primary school was last inspected back in November 2018.

Inspectors said: “Leaders are ambitious for the school. They are setting high aspirations for pupils’ achievement, both academically and in their personal and social development.

“Leaders have taken effective action to raise pupils’ progress and attainment in a short space of time. The headteacher has made a positive difference to the standards that pupils achieve at the end of key stage 1 and key stage 2.”

Widnes Academy – ‘Good’

Based on Cholmondeley Street, the school was last inspected on March 21 and 22 last year.

The report began, “Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), enjoy attending Widnes Academy. There is a strong sense of community. Parents and carers value the approachability of staff.

“The cheerful greetings extended by the staff each morning help pupils to feel positive and secure as soon as they arrive. Pupils get on well together and play happily with their friends at social times. They understand that everyone should be treated with respect, regardless of their differences.”

St Clement's Catholic Primary School – ‘Good’

This Oxford Road school was last inspected in March 2020.

Inspectors said: “Pupils get a good quality of education at St Clements. Leaders have high expectations for every child in English and mathematics. Their expectations in other subjects are not as high. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) achieve well.”

Westfield Primary School – ‘Good’

Based in Runcorn, this school was inspected recently in May last year.

The report began, “Pupils enjoy coming to this happy school. They try hard to live up to leaders’ expectations to be ready, respectful and safe. Pupils have strong relationships with staff. This helps them to feel safe. If bullying should occur, adults deal with it effectively.”

Castle View Primary School – ‘Good’

This Halton Brook school was inspected on November 15 and 16, 2022.

Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy coming to Castle View Primary School. They feel safe and happy. This is because of the positive relationships they form with their friends and with the caring staff who know pupils well. Parents and carers value the support and care provided to their children by staff.”

St Mary's Church of England Primary School – ‘Good’

Based in Runcorn, this primary school received a short inspection in July 2019 which confirmed the school ‘continues to be good’.

A report began, “The school is a calm, happy and welcoming place. Throughout the school, vibrant displays celebrate examples of pupils’ learning and the Christian ethos. This is at the heart of everything that you do in school.

“Your Christian values have created an inclusive and nurturing environment. This has a direct influence on pupils’ wellbeing and their attitudes to learning. The school motto ‘learning to love, loving to learn’ contributes to the culture of caring and learning together. This is followed by everyone in the school community.”

The Brow Community Primary School – ‘Good’

This Halton Brow school was last inspected in June 8 and 9, 2022.

Inspectors said: “Pupils enjoy coming to this school. They are all made to feel part of The Brow community. Pupils know that staff care for them. As some pupils explained, ‘We feel safe because our teachers look out for us.’

“Staff have high expectations of pupils’ behaviour and achievement. Pupils work hard to live up to these expectations and they successfully learn the curriculum. They are thrilled to have their positive actions recognised with praise points, or to be named on the ‘shout-out’ board.”

St Gerard's Catholic Primary and Nursery School – ‘Good’

This Lugsdale Road school was last inspected by Ofsted in November, 2021.

A report began, “Pupils get a good deal at this school. They thrive socially, educationally and emotionally. Their delight in attending St Gerard’s is reflected in the way that pupils arrive at school at the start of the day with happy, smiling faces. Staff know the pupils well and value them as individuals.”

Woodside Primary School – ‘Good’

Last inspected in June, 2022, this Runcorn school was rated good by Ofsted.

Inspectors: “Pupils are happy and safe at this school. They told inspectors that they enjoy learning and like discovering new things with their friends. Pupils form strong and trusting bonds with staff. They know that they can speak to any adult if they are concerned or worried. Pupils told inspectors that if bullying happens, it is quickly resolved.”

Weston Primary School – ‘Good’

Based on Lambsickle Lane, this school was last inspected in June 15 and 16 last year.

The report began, “Pupils enjoy attending Weston Primary. They told inspectors that they feel safe in school. Pupils look forward to seeing their friends and their teachers each day.

“Leaders and staff have high expectations of all pupils. This includes children in the early years and pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils want to achieve all that they can. Overall, they achieve well.”

Astmoor Primary School – ‘Good’

This Runcorn school was inspected in September 2019.

Inspectors said: “This is a caring and nurturing school. The values of ‘respect, readiness and safety’ are threaded through all aspects of the school. Pupils do their very best to live up to these values. Staff have high expectations for all pupils. They expect pupils to work hard.”

St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy – ‘Good’

This Conwy Court primary school was visited by inspectors in September last year.

The report said: “St Augustine’s is a warm and welcoming school. Pupils are keen to learn and make friends. They are happy, and feel safe and supported in school. The school sets high expectations for pupils’ achievement.

“Pupils live up to these expectations. They spoke openly and confidently about the work that they do in class. Pupils’ positive attitudes to their learning and the pride that they take in their work help them achieve well.”

Kingsway Primary Academy School – ‘Good’

Based in Widnes, this primary school was inspected I September last year.

Inspectors said: “Pupils at Kingsway Primary Academy School enjoy coming to school. Pupils, including children in the early years, feel happy and safe. This includes pupils in the specially resourced provision for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), (specially resourced provision). They value the strong relationships that they have with the adults in school.”

Beechwood Primary School – ‘Good’

This Grasmere Drive school was last inspected in December 2019.

The report began, “Pupils are happy at Beechwood Primary School. They like the friendly atmosphere at the school. They enjoy a wide range of activities that help them to develop as well-rounded individuals, such as clubs for yoga or cake decoration. They also have opportunities to learn a range of musical instruments.”

St Michaels Catholic Primary School – ‘Good’

This Widnes school was last inspected in May last year and received an outstanding grading in one area of the report, ‘behaviour and attitudes’.

An inspector said: “Pupils love coming to this school, which leaders aptly describe as an oasis. Leaders have given careful thought to the school environment, from the calming corridors and unique library to the outdoor spaces.

“Pupils are very well looked after, and they thrive in this caring environment. Leaders make sure that pupils feel happy and safe. They have high expectations for what pupils can achieve. In many subjects, many pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve well.”

St Bede's Catholic Junior School – ‘Good’

Based in Widnes this school was last inspected in February 2020.

The school achieved outstanding grading in two areas of the report: ‘behaviour and attitudes’ and ‘personal development’.

Inspectors said: “As one governor rightly said to us, the school provides ‘layers of opportunity’ for pupils. Leaders have high expectations of all pupils. Pupils are keen to learn. Most pupils give full attention to their activities. They make every effort to attend school when they should and to arrive punctually each day.”

Ditton Primary School – ‘Good’

This Widnes school was inspected on October 17 and 18 last year.

Inspectors said: “Pupils are happy and enjoy coming to school. They receive a warm welcome from staff each day. Pupils value the caring relationships that they have with staff. Pupils trust that staff will help them with any concerns. This makes pupils feel safe at school.”

Palace Fields Primary Academy – ‘Good’

This primary school in Runcorn was last inspected in April 2019.

The report began, “The principal and vice-principal are ambitious for the school and its community. Staff and governors share this ambition, as do pupils. Older pupils told inspectors they know that learning is at the heart of helping them to secure a good job in the future.”

Fairfield Primary School – ‘Good’

Based in Widnes, this primary school received a short inspection in March 2019.

The outcome said the school ‘continues to be good’.

Inspectors said: “The leadership team has maintained the good quality of education in the school since the last inspection. Prior to your appointment in September 2017, there had been a steep decline in the progress and attainment of pupils in reading, writing and mathematics, which left staff feeling demotivated and without direction. Since then, your leadership has inspired them to bring about rapid changes in the quality of teaching and learning.”

St John Fisher Catholic Primary School – ‘Good’

This Widnes school was last inspected in May last year.

The report began, “Pupils enjoy coming to school. They are happy, polite and well-mannered. Leaders ensure that pupils have a secure understanding of the harmful effects of bullying. Pupils feel safe in school because staff deal with any rare incidents of bullying or unkindness swiftly and effectively.”

Our Lady Mother of the Saviour Catholic Primary School – ‘Good’

Last inspected in January 2022, this school ‘continues to be a good school’.

Inspectors said: “Pupils thrive in this school because of the positive relationships that they have with staff and each other. Pupils know they are important and that they have a voice. They develop self-confidence because staff help them to feel good about themselves. Pupils who have joined the school recently said they were made to feel welcome and made friends easily.”

Hillview Primary School – ‘Good’

Based in Runcorn, this school was last inspected in July last year.

The report began, “Hillview is a warm and welcoming school. Pupils’ well-being is at the heart of the school’s ethos. Pupils get on well together. They are kind and courteous. Pupils have adults in school who they can talk to if they have any worries or concerns. Any incidents of bullying are dealt with swiftly and effectively by leaders. This helps pupils to feel happy and safe in school.”

St Berteline's CofE Primary School – ‘Good’

Located on Norton Lane, this primary school was last given a full inspection in February 2020.

Inspectors said: “Pupils at St Berteline’s feel like part of a family. They are happy at school. There is a genuine warmth among staff and pupils. Pupils feel cared for and well supported. Pupils demonstrate the school’s vision of ‘A love of life, a love of learning’ in their actions. They are enthusiastic learners.”

To see the full Ofsted reports visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk/