Accrington Benjamin Hargreaves Church of England Primary School

About Accrington Benjamin Hargreaves Church of England Primary School

If you're a parent considering Accrington Benjamin Hargreaves Church of England Primary School, the most immediate signal is that it is heavily oversubscribed. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 74 applications for just 18 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.11. That means more than four families applied for every available spot, and all 16 first-preference applicants were offered a place, suggesting strong local demand. However, this enthusiasm sits alongside a significant concern: the school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2023, rated it Inadequate overall. The parent view data is not available in the school's profile, so we can't draw on that specific metric, but the oversubscription figures alone indicate that many local families still see it as a desirable option, despite the regulatory rating.

Academically, the picture is mixed and requires careful reading. The school's Ofsted breakdown from 2023 shows that every core area was rated either Inadequate or Requires improvement. Quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all judged Inadequate, while personal development was rated Requires improvement. The early years provision was also Inadequate. This is a sharp decline from the school's previous inspection in 2015, when it was rated Good across the board. On standardised measures, the school's Key Stage 2 results are not provided in the data, but the local authority average for KS2 attainment is 60, which gives a benchmark. Without the school's own figure, it's impossible to say how it compares, but the Ofsted rating suggests significant challenges in delivering expected outcomes.

In practical terms, the school offers a range of facilities including a library, ICT suite, sports hall, forest school, and a chapel, plus clubs like science, gardening, and chess. It has identified SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. With 139 pupils against a capacity of 161, the school is not at full capacity, and 29.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average. This is a small, Church of England primary in Hyndburn that clearly inspires strong loyalty from local families, but the Inadequate Ofsted rating means any parent considering it should visit, ask about the improvement plan, and weigh the oversubscription against the regulatory concerns. It may suit families who value a faith-based, community-focused setting and are prepared to engage closely with the school's turnaround journey.

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