St Laurence's History

A Living History

St Laurence’s Catholic Primary School stands at the heart of the Southdene community in Kirkby, serving families from Leeside Avenue ands the surrounding parish of St Joseph and St Laurence. The school is a voluntary‑aided Roman Catholic primary school within the Archdiocese of Liverpool, educating children from Nursery to Year 6 and supporting generations of local families in both faith and learning.

Foundations and Growth

Built in the mid 1950s, St Laurence’s was established to serve the growing Catholic population of post‑war Kirkby, developing alongside the Southdene parish community. Over time, the school expanded to include Nursery provision and enhanced learning spaces, reflecting the changing needs of children and families in the area. With a current capacity of around 380 pupils, and a recent increase in the number of children admitted each year from 50 to 60, the school remains one of the central educational and spiritual institutions in the locality.

Parish Links and Catholic Life

St Laurence’s enjoys a close partnership with the Parish of St Joseph and St Laurence, located on Bewley Drive. The parish itself was formed through the merger of St Laurence and St Joseph, reflecting broader changes within the Church and local community. Over the years, parish priests have played an important role in school life, supporting sacramental preparation, worship and the Catholic life of the school. Today, the parish is served by Rev Canon Sean Kirwin, continuing a tradition of strong pastoral support and engagement.

Staffing, Stability and School Improvement

St Laurence's has always enjoyed a fantastic staff team who work tirelessly to deliver the very best education for the children in our community. The school has benefitted from outstanding leadership over the past 20 years, including most recently by the inspirational Paul Cronin and Sarah-Jane Carroll. Ofsted has recognised the impact of the staff and the governing body across a number of years, with 'Outstanding' judgements in 2005 and 2008. Most significantly, the school was judged 'Good' in 2019, and a further inspection in November 2024 confirmed that standards had been securely maintained, praising strong relationships, ambitious curriculum design and governors’ commitment to continuous improvement.

Serving the Community

The strong sense of community is a feature throughout Kirkby, none more so than in St Laurence’s. The school works closely with parents/carers, parish groups and a wide variety of local and city-wide groups, supporting families and promoting values of compassion, service and responsibility. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, staff maintained provision for vulnerable pupils and key‑worker families while delivering remote learning and pastoral support to the wider school community, reflecting both resilience and care during an unprecedented national challenge.

A School with a Story Still Being Written

Today, St Laurence’s Catholic Primary School continues to build on its rich history with confidence and purpose. Rooted in Gospel values and committed to high expectations for every child, the school remains a place where faith, learning and community come together - honouring the past while shaping the future for the children of Kirkby.