Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School

About Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School

Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is a small state primary in Wyre that clearly commands strong local loyalty. In the 2025/26 admissions round, the school received 32 applications for just 10 places, giving it an oversubscription ratio of 3.2. Only six of those applications were first-preference, meaning the bulk of demand came from families ranking it second or third, but the sheer volume still points to a school that parents are keen to get into. The school itself is compact, with 76 pupils on roll against a capacity of 70, so it is genuinely full. While the Department for Education does not publish a parent view score for this school, the oversubscription figures are a practical signal of how local families see it. It is a Church of England primary, and the headteacher is Liam Reynolds.

Academically, the school performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is above the Lancashire local authority average of 60%. Maths was a particular strength: 83% of pupils met the expected standard and half achieved the higher standard, with an average scaled score of 107. Reading and writing were more mixed — 83% hit the expected level in reading but only 8% reached the higher standard, and writing saw 75% at expected with the same 8% at higher. The school ranks 21st out of 35 primary schools in Wyre on the KS2 combined measure, placing it in the middle of the local pack. Its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 confirmed the school remains Good, a clear improvement from its Requires Improvement rating in 2012.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment for its size. Facilities include a sensory room, forest school, playing fields, music rooms and a chapel. Sports provision covers dance, football, rounders, cross country, athletics and tennis, and there are clubs for science, art, book and gardening. SEND support is targeted at specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, speech and language needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With only 10 places available each year and oversubscription, families should be prepared to apply early and consider their catchment position. This is a school that will suit families who want a small, church-affiliated primary with strong maths outcomes and a clear focus on outdoor and creative learning, set in a rural part of Wyre.

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