St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell vs St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
A head-to-head comparison of two primary schools in North West, England, 1.9 km apart, using official English 2025 data. The better value in each row is highlighted.
St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell
Wigan · Local authority primary · Ages 4–11
347 students
St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School
Skelmersdale · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
211 students
| Measure | St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell Wigan, North West | St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School Skelmersdale, North West |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index (England) | 88 Top 10% | 64 Top 50% |
| Region rank | #139 of 2,286 | #594 of 2,286 |
| National rank | #1070 of 15,697 | #5065 of 15,697 |
| Sector | Local authority | Local authority |
| Type | Primary | Primary |
| Year range | Ages 4–11 | Ages 2–11 |
| Students | 347 | 211 |
| Pupils on roll | 347 | 211 |
| Free school meals | 9.5% | 27.2% |
| Capacity filled | 85.7% | 88.7% |
| KS2 expected standard (RWM) | 80% | 76% |
| KS2 higher standard (RWM) | 20% | 8% |
| KS2 reading progress | – | – |
| KS2 writing progress | – | – |
| KS2 maths progress | – | – |
| Attainment 8 | – | – |
| Progress 8 | – | – |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | – | – |
| Grade 4+ English & maths | – | – |
| EBacc average points | – | – |
| A level points per entry | – | – |
| town | Wigan | Skelmersdale |
| region | North West | North West |
| Website | www.orrellsaintjames.wigan.sch.uk | www.stthomasthemartyr.org |
The verdict
- •St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell scores higher on the Success Index (England) (87.8 vs 63.9).
- •St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell does better on ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (80% vs 76%).
- •St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell does better on ks2: higher standard (20% vs 8%).
- •St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell is the larger school with 347 students compared with 211.
The Success Index (England) summarises published results and context from official data. It does not measure teaching quality or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell better than St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
On the Success Index (England), St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell ranks higher (87.8 vs 63.9 out of 100). The index is built from published results and context data, not from teaching quality or fit, so visit both schools before deciding.
How far apart are St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell and St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School?
About 1.9 km in a straight line, between Wigan and Skelmersdale in North West.
Which has the better Pupils on roll?
St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell: 347. St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School: 211. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
How do St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell and St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School rank in North West?
St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell is 139th of 2,286 and St Thomas the Martyr Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School is 594th of 2,286 among primary schools in North West on the 2025 Success Index (England).