Academy converter · Knowsley

Cronton Church of England Primary Academy

2–11Ages
233Pupils
PrimaryPhase
Church of EnglandReligious character
143456URN

Smithy Lane, Cronton, Widnes, WA8 5DF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Outstanding

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

2.4per place

0.5 above Knowsley median (1.9)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Knowsley

66 applications for 28 places · 14th of 48 in Knowsley

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

65%met the expected standard

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Outstanding · 26 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education	Outstanding
Behaviour and attitudes	Outstanding
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management	Outstanding
Early years provision	Outstanding

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

2.4applications per place, Reception

0.5 above Knowsley median (1.9) close to England median (2.2)

66 applications · 28 places offered · 25 named it first

FaithMay give priority to families of the faith.

2026 2.4; Knowsley median median 1.9
2025 2.4; Knowsley median median 1.9
2024 1.9; Knowsley median median 1.8
2023 2.2; Knowsley median median 1.9
2022 2.3; Knowsley median median 1.8
2021 2.5; Knowsley median median 1.7
2020 2.4; Knowsley median median 1.8
2019 2.4; Knowsley median median 1.8
2018 2.1; Knowsley median median 1.9
2017 2.6; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2016 2.8; Knowsley median median 1.9; as the previous school
2015 2.9; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school
2014 3.0; Knowsley median median 1.8; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Knowsley median in 9 of 9 years.

This school
Knowsley median

Dashed bars: as Cronton CofE Primary School (URN 104449), the previous school.

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	28	66	2.4	25	0.89
Sep 2025	27	65	2.4	27	1.00
Sep 2024	30	57	1.9	36	1.20
Sep 2023	30	65	2.2	34	1.13
Sep 2022	29	68	2.3	31	1.07
Sep 2021	30	75	2.5	37	1.23
Sep 2020	28	66	2.4	30	1.07
Sep 2019	30	72	2.4	30	1.00
Sep 2018	30	62	2.1	29	0.97
Sep 2017 *	30	79	2.6	36	1.20
Sep 2016 *	29	82	2.8	33	1.14
Sep 2015 *	30	88	2.9	30	1.00
Sep 2014 *	30	89	3.0	33	1.10

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 87% · Writing 84% · Maths 65% → all three 65% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard65%18th of 48 in Knowsley

Knowsley 59% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard87%

Knowsley 75% England 78%

Higher standard42%

Knowsley 28% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard84%

Knowsley 69% England 75%

Greater depth26%

Knowsley 7% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard65%

Knowsley 72% England 77%

Higher standard26%

Knowsley 22% England 24%

Average scaled score 104 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Knowsley median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	65%	13%	108	104
2023/24	67%	10%	106	104
2022/23	83%	13%	110	106

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

Cronton Church of England Primary AcademyThis school
This school

Outstanding2024

2.4applications per place 65%met the SATs standard
Holy Family Catholic Primary School & Nursery
0.3 km · Knowsley

Remains Good2024

1.7applications per place 68%met the SATs standard
All Saints Upton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
1.4 km · Halton

Good2023

1.8applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
St Basil's Catholic Primary School
1.8 km · Halton

Standards maintained2024

3.2applications per place 62%met the SATs standard
St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School
2.0 km · St. Helens

Standards maintained2025

2.5applications per place 78%met the SATs standard
Oakdene Primary Academy
2.1 km · St. Helens

Good2024

2.9applications per place
Farnworth Church of England Controlled Primary School
2.3 km · Halton

Good2023

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

Graded · no overall grade2024

3.1applications per place 84%met the SATs standard
Ditton Primary School
2.4 km · Halton

Good2023

2.3applications per place 54%met the SATs standard

School details

Type: Academy converter
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 143456 · 340/3300
Trust: Liverpool Diocesan Schools Trust
Religious character: Church of England
Capacity: 210 pupils · 233 on roll
Free school meals: 5.8% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Opened: 1 October 2017
Replaced: Cronton CofE Primary School (URN 104449)
Address: Smithy Lane, Cronton, Widnes, WA8 5DF
Local authority: Knowsley

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