Casterton Primary Academy

About Casterton Primary Academy

Casterton Primary Academy is a state-funded mixed primary school in Burnley, Lancashire, that is currently running above its official capacity with 289 pupils against a published capacity of 280. The school serves a community with a notably high level of disadvantage: 35.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is significantly above the national average for primary schools in England. Demand for places is strong — for the 2025/26 intake, the school received 146 applications for just 38 places, an oversubscription ratio of 3.84. Of those, 35 were first-preference applications, and 33 first-preference offers were made, indicating that while the school is popular, not every family who wants a place gets one. The headteacher is Paul Whaling, and the school has no religious character. It does not offer nursery provision or a sixth form, focusing solely on the 5–11 age range.

Academically, Casterton Primary Academy performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 78% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Lancashire average of 60%. The school ranks 3rd out of 28 primary schools in Burnley on this measure, placing it in the top 11% locally, and 253rd out of 2,065 primaries in the North West region. At the higher standard, 13% of pupils achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects. Reading and maths average scaled scores were 105 and 104 respectively, both above the national benchmark of 100. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, rated it Good overall and Good in every category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This marks a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2017, when it was rated Inadequate.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, an ICT suite, a forest school area, a gymnasium, playing fields, an outdoor playground and a chapel. Sports provision includes swimming, cricket, tennis, rounders and dance, while extracurricular clubs cover gardening, book club, science club and eco club. For pupils with additional needs, the school has identified provisions for specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties or disabilities. Given its strong academic outcomes relative to the local average, its high demand for places, and its range of facilities and clubs, Casterton Primary Academy is likely to suit families who prioritise solid academic progress in a well-subscribed, community-focused setting. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School, about 2 km away, which may be an alternative for families who do not secure a place here.

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