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Balshaw Lane Community Primary School

Chorley, PR7 6NSPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Apr 2025
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
36 1st-choice / 42 places
Ranking
Not ranked

About Balshaw Lane Community Primary School

Balshaw Lane Community Primary School was judged Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, which took place in 2025, but the detail behind that rating tells a more nuanced story. The school’s personal development was rated Outstanding, the only category to reach that top tier, while quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management were all judged Good. Early years provision was also Good. This represents a change from the school’s previous inspection in 2011, when it was rated Outstanding overall. The most informative exam metric for this primary school is its Key Stage 2 performance. The school’s average KS2 score sits at 60, which matches the local authority average for Lancashire exactly. That places Balshaw Lane in a solid middle ground among its peers, though it does not reach the heights of the top-performing local primaries such as Crawford Village Primary School, New Longton All Saints CofE Primary School, or St George’s Church of England Primary School in Chorley.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBredon Avenue, Chorley, Chorley, PR7 6NS
HeadteacherCatherine Hodgson
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils402
Free School Meals (FSM)11.7%
School Capacity402 / 420 (96% full)

The full report on this school

What 75 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

23 Apr 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 20 May 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Outdoor PlaygroundMusic RoomsSports HallICT SuiteDining HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

11

Sports

TennisAthleticsNetballSwimmingCross Country

Clubs & Activities

Eco ClubCodingDramaGardeningFilm ClubArt Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:55 – 15:20

Breakfast club

08:15-08:55

After-school care

15:20-18:00

Source: balshawlane.co.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Balshaw Lane Community Primary School

Balshaw Lane Community Primary School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.