St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell
Voluntary aided primary school in Wigan (Wigan).
KS2 RWM expected
80%
▲ 18pp England 2024/25: 62%
2024/25
Reading expected
90%
▲ 15pp England 2024/25: 75%
2024/25
Maths expected
88%
▲ 14pp England 2024/25: 74%
2024/25
Writing expected
87%
▲ 15pp England 2024/25: 72%
2024/25
Attendance rate
96.6%
▲ 2pp England 2024/25: 94.8%
2024/25 academic year
Pupil : Teacher
21.8
▲ 1.1 England 2025/26: 20.7
2025/26
Eligible for free school meals
9.5%
▼ 15pp England 2025/26: 24.9%
school census 15/01/2026
Capacity
86%
347 / 405 pupils
register figure (GIAS)
Location
iSchool location from Get Information about Schools. Nearby schools are coloured by phase. Open Map+ for a full-screen map with neighbourhood deprivation (England only).About
iWritten by WhatSchool from official school data (Get Information about Schools, DfE and Ofsted).St James' Catholic Primary School Orrell is a Catholic primary school located in Wigan. The school caters for boys and girls aged 4 to 11. The Headteacher is Gary Hayes.
Enrichment
1 activityiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Bug Club
Awards
1 awardiFound on the school website by WhatSchool. Not verified by Governance Register; the school website is the authority.- Eco SchoolsEnvironment
Key facts
- URN
- 106492
- Type
- Voluntary aided school
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Roman Catholic
- Sixth form
- Does not have a sixth form
- Nursery
- No Nursery Classes
- Local authority
- Wigan
- Constituency
- Makerfield
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Governing body (12 current, 0 former)
Maintained school governing body.
Leadership
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Mike Hickman | Chair of Governors | Appointed by GB/board | since 2021 · until 2028 |
Full governing body
| Name | Role | How appointed | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Richard Foster | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mr Matthew Benson | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Jane Green | Governor | Elected by parents | since 2026 · until 2030 |
| Mrs Helen Gordon | Governor | Nominated by LA and appointed by GB | since 2025 · until 2029 |
| Mr Paul Williams | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Anne Finch | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Paul Carey | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mr Gavin Robinson | Governor | Foundation/sponsor members | since 2024 · until 2028 |
| Mrs Paula Winstanley | Governor | Appointed by foundation/Trust | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mrs Julie Hayes | Governor | Elected by school staff | since 2023 · until 2027 ends 2027 |
| Mr Gary Hayes | Governor | Ex-officio by virtue of office as headteacher/principal | since 2010 · until 2050 |
Source: Department for Education, Get Information about Schools (governance records, as at 25 October 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Names are shown as published; there are no addresses or contact details. Current and former are worked out from term end dates when the page loads. Object or ask for removal · Report an issue with this record