Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School

About Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School

Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School is clearly a popular choice among local families. For entry into the 2025/26 reception class, the school received 43 applications for just 20 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.15. All 20 first-preference applicants were offered a place, which suggests that for those who put it top of their list, the school is a realistic option, but competition is real. The school has a nursery provision attached, so families with younger children can get a foot in the door early. With 34.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average economic disadvantage, yet it has maintained a Good rating from Ofsted following its most recent inspection in July 2024. That inspection marked a change from the school’s previous Outstanding rating in 2013, but inspectors still rated every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision — as Good.

Academically, the school’s Key Stage 2 results for the 2023/24 year show a mixed picture. Just 42% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well below the Lancashire local authority average of 60%. In individual subjects, 61% met the expected standard in maths and writing, while 58% did so in reading. The proportion reaching the higher standard in all three subjects was just 3%, and in maths specifically it was 17%. Average scaled scores were 102 in maths and 101 in reading, both just above the national baseline of 100. The school ranks 27th out of 31 primary schools in Rossendale on this combined measure, placing it in the bottom half nationally. For parents focused on academic outcomes, these figures are worth weighing carefully against the school’s other strengths.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including an ICT suite, sports hall, library, art studios and a chapel, reflecting its Church of England foundation. Sports on offer include athletics, swimming, netball, gymnastics and rounders, and there are clubs for choir, film and drama. The school has a broad SEND offer, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, physical disability, and other difficulties. This suggests a genuinely inclusive approach. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is St Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School in Newchurch, 2.3 km away, which may be an alternative for families who prioritise top Ofsted grades. Bacup Holy Trinity is best suited to families who value a community-focused, inclusive Church of England primary with strong pastoral support and who are comfortable with academic results that sit below the local average.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Bacup Holy Trinity Stacksteads Church of England Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents