Voluntary controlled school · Halton

Farnworth Church of England Controlled Primary School

4–11Ages
414Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
111394URN

Pit Lane, Widnes, WA8 9HS · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Jul 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.8per place

0.8 above Halton median (2.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Halton

156 applications for 56 places · 7th of 34 in Halton

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

67%met the expected standard

Halton 61% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 3 July 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

2.8applications per place, Reception

0.8 above Halton median (2.0) 0.6 above England median (2.2)

156 applications · 56 places offered · 53 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 2.8; Halton median median 2.0
2025 2.7; Halton median median 1.9
2024 3.0; Halton median median 1.9
2023 2.7; Halton median median 1.8
2022 2.7; Halton median median 1.7
2021 3.3; Halton median median 1.8
2020 3.1; Halton median median 1.7
2019 3.1; Halton median median 1.6
2018 3.1; Halton median median 1.7
2017 3.2; Halton median median 1.7
2016 3.1; Halton median median 1.6
2015 2.3; Halton median median 1.7
2014 2.6; Halton median median 2.0

More applications per place than the Halton median in 13 of 13 years.

This school
Halton median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	56	156	2.8	53	0.95
Sep 2025	60	164	2.7	54	0.90
Sep 2024	60	178	3.0	61	1.02
Sep 2023	54	145	2.7	51	0.94
Sep 2022	60	164	2.7	82	1.37
Sep 2021	60	197	3.3	93	1.55
Sep 2020	59	180	3.1	71	1.20
Sep 2019	60	186	3.1	68	1.13
Sep 2018	59	184	3.1	74	1.25
Sep 2017	60	192	3.2	73	1.22
Sep 2016	60	184	3.1	80	1.33
Sep 2015	58	132	2.3	45	0.78
Sep 2014	56	147	2.6	60	1.07

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 77% · Writing 77% · Maths 77% → all three 67% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard67%19th of 47 in Halton

Halton 61% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard77%

Halton 75% England 78%

Higher standard34%

Halton 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard77%

Halton 73% England 75%

Greater depth18%

Halton 11% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard77%

Halton 75% England 77%

Higher standard21%

Halton 19% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Halton median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	67%	13%	106	104
2023/24	78%	13%	107	106
2022/23	72%	2%	106	105

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Farnworth Church of England Controlled Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

2.8applications per place 67%met the SATs standard
Lunts Heath Primary School
0.3 km · Halton

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Fairfield Primary School
1.1 km · Halton

Remains Good2024

2.3applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Moorfield Primary School
1.5 km · Halton

Standards maintained2024

2.3applications per place 94%met the SATs standard
St Bede's Catholic Junior School
1.5 km · Halton

Improved significantly2025

62%met the SATs standard
St Bede's Catholic Infant School
1.6 km · Halton

Outstanding2023

2.4applications per place
St John Fisher Catholic Primary School
2.0 km · Halton

Remains Good2023

2.9applications per place 57%met the SATs standard
Holy Family Catholic Primary School & Nursery
2.0 km · Knowsley

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
Ditton Primary School
2.0 km · Halton

Good2023

2.3applications per place 54%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Voluntary controlled school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 111394 · 876/3177
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 420 pupils · 414 on roll
Free school meals: 7.0% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address: Pit Lane, Widnes, WA8 9HS
Local authority: Halton

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources