Blacko Primary School

About Blacko Primary School

Blacko Primary School’s key stage 2 results comfortably outpace the Lancashire local authority average, making it a standout choice for families in Pendle. While the LA average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined sits at 60%, Blacko achieved 93% in the 2023/24 academic year. That figure places the school first out of 33 primary schools in Pendle and in the top 1.2% nationally. The school’s maths and reading average scores of 107 and 109 respectively are both well above the national benchmark of 100, and the proportion of pupils working at a higher standard in writing (57%) is particularly strong. With only 4% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively affluent catchment, but the consistency of its results across all three core subjects suggests effective teaching across the board.

Ofsted last inspected Blacko in November 2022 and confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held since at least its previous graded inspection in 2012. The inspection report noted that leadership and management, as well as the overall effectiveness, both merit a Grade 2 (Good). The school’s early years provision was rated Outstanding in 2008, though no separate grade was given for this area in the most recent inspection. At key stage 2, 100% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, and 93% did so in both maths and writing. Progress scores are not available in the data, but the high attainment levels suggest pupils are generally performing well above floor standards. The school’s ranking score of 93 places it in the top 5% of primary schools in the North West region, and it sits fourth overall within Lancashire when all primary types are considered.

Blacko is a small village primary with 101 pupils on roll, just under its capacity of 105, and it is heavily oversubscribed: for 15 places in the 2025/26 intake, there were 49 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.27 to one. Facilities include a forest school, sensory room, sports hall, art studios and an ICT suite, and the school runs clubs for book club, coding and chess. Sports offered include gymnastics, cross country, netball, dance and tennis. The school’s SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, and speech, language and communication needs. There is no nursery or sixth form, and the school has no religious character. For families seeking a high-attaining primary with strong community feel and a track record of academic results well above the local norm, Blacko is a compelling option, though securing a place will require a timely application given the level of demand.

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