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Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School

Pendle, BB9 6QTPrimaryAges 4–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Sep 2023
KS2 Results
79%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
16 1st-choice / 17 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#1805 of 13,686 nationally

About Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School stands out sharply against the Lancashire local authority average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 60%, Barrowford St Thomas achieves 79% — a significant 19-point gap. This places the school fourth out of 33 primary schools in Pendle, comfortably in the top 25% nationally. Its overall Ofsted rating is Outstanding, a grade it has held across both its most recent inspections, with the latest full graded inspection in 2023 awarding top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. The school is oversubscribed by a ratio of over five to one, with 86 applications for just 17 places in the 2025/26 intake, and 14 of those offers went to first-preference families.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range4 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressWheatley Lane Road, Nelson, Pendle, BB9 6QT
HeadteacherOliver Haines
Local AuthorityLancashire
Number of Pupils121
Free School Meals (FSM)8.3%
School Capacity121 / 119 (102% full)

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

26 Sept 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 8 Nov 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Playing FieldsOutdoor PlaygroundDining HallSensory RoomGymnasiumICT SuiteMusic RoomsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

12

Sports

AthleticsFootballRoundersCricketSwimmingGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubChoirCodingFilm ClubDramaArt Club

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

SEND Support

Mental HealthSpeech & Language

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.