Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

About Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School

Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a grade it has held consistently since at least 2012. The school's strongest academic metric comes from its 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, where 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits ten percentage points above the Lancashire local authority average of 60%, placing the school in the top half of primary schools within Chorley. In reading specifically, 90% of pupils reached the expected level, while 40% achieved the higher standard. Maths and writing each saw 70% of pupils meet expectations, with 50% reaching the higher standard in maths. Average scaled scores of 109 in maths and 108 in reading further underline solid core subject performance. The school ranks 22nd out of 46 primary schools in Chorley, and sits in the top 50% nationally.

Beyond headline results, the school's Progress 8 data is not available, so it is difficult to measure how much value the school adds relative to pupils' starting points. However, the Ofsted inspection noted that leadership and management remain Good, and the school has maintained its Good rating across both its graded and ungraded inspections. With only 70 pupils on roll and a capacity of exactly 70, Brindle St James is a small, full school. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is very low at 1.4%, well below the national average, which may reflect the demographic context of the Chorley area. The school's nursery provision means children can join before Reception, and there is no sixth form. For families considering alternatives, the nearest Outstanding-rated primary is St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Withnell, 3.7 km away.

The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 28 applications for 10 places and all 10 first-preference applicants receiving an offer, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.8. Facilities include an ICT suite, sports hall, sensory room, art studios, playing fields and a chapel, which supports the school's Church of England character. Sports offered include gymnastics, cross country, cricket, dance, netball and rounders, while clubs cover drama, choir, chess and gardening. The school's SEND provision is focused on social, emotional and mental health needs, which suggests it is best suited to families whose children do not require support for other types of special educational needs. This is a small, community-focused primary with strong core results and a clear religious character, ideal for families who value a tight-knit setting and solid academic foundations.

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