Anderton Primary School

About Anderton Primary School

Anderton Primary School in Chorley has been rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school’s key academic metric for the 2023/24 year is the proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which sits at 59%. That is just one point below the Lancashire local authority average of 60%, placing Anderton in the bottom half of schools nationally, at the 59th percentile. Breaking that down, reading is the strongest subject: 76% of pupils met the expected standard and 31% reached the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 105. In maths, 66% met the expected standard and 14% achieved the higher standard, with an average score of 103. Writing is the weakest area, with 69% at the expected level and just 7% at the higher standard. The school ranks 34th out of 46 primary schools in Chorley on this combined measure.

Parents are overwhelmingly positive about the school’s impact on their children. In the most recent Parent View survey, 96% of respondents would recommend the school, and 86% strongly agreed that their child is happy there. Behaviour is seen as a real strength: 65% of parents strongly agreed the school ensures pupils are well behaved, and 82% strongly agreed their child feels safe. The school also scores well on personal development, with 67% of parents strongly agreeing the school supports their child’s wider development, and 75% strongly agreeing their child can take part in clubs and activities. The school offers a range of clubs including gardening, drama, choir, eco club and science club, plus sports such as gymnastics, football, cross country, rounders, netball and dance. Facilities include a sensory room, sports hall, ICT suite, playing fields, forest school, outdoor playground, music rooms and a chapel.

Anderton is a relatively small primary school with 191 pupils against a capacity of 210, and it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, there were 60 applications for 18 places, all of which went to first-preference applicants. The school has a below-average proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 11%. It provides for a range of special educational needs, including specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, and hearing impairment. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form. For families considering Anderton, the data suggests a school that has turned around its performance, with strong parent satisfaction and a clear focus on behaviour and personal development, but with academic results that are broadly in line with or slightly below the local average. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is St George’s Church of England Primary School, Chorley, 3.1 km away.

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