Crawshawbooth Primary School

About Crawshawbooth Primary School

Crawshawbooth Primary School is a state-funded, mixed primary in Rossendale, Lancashire, currently educating 302 pupils against a capacity of 315, meaning it is very close to full. Its intake reflects a relatively low level of socio-economic disadvantage: 9.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the national average. The school is clearly popular with local families — for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, it received 61 applications for just 36 places, an oversubscription ratio of 1.69. Of those, 35 were first-preference applications, and 35 first-preference offers were made, suggesting that almost every family who wanted a place as their top choice secured one, but the overall demand still outstrips supply. The school has no religious character, no nursery provision, and no sixth form, so it serves the primary years only. Its headteacher is Chris Willan, and the school was last inspected by Ofsted in 2023, when it was judged to remain Good — a rating it has held consistently across its previous graded inspections.

Academically, Crawshawbooth performs solidly above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 71% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with a Lancashire average of 60%. This places the school 10th out of 31 primary schools in Rossendale, and in the top 50 nationally for this metric. Individual subject scores are strong: average scaled scores of 106 in both reading and maths, with 82% of pupils reaching the expected standard in maths and writing, and 78% in reading. At the higher standard, 38% achieved in maths, 33% in reading, and 16% in writing. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points, but the raw attainment figures are clearly above the local norm. The school does not have a sixth form, so all pupils move on to secondary education at 11.

The school offers a good range of facilities for a primary, including an ICT suite, sports hall, dining hall, forest school and a chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, rounders, cross country, gymnastics, football, cricket and tennis, and there are clubs for art, chess and science. For families with children who have additional needs, the school lists seven SEND provisions, including support for autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. The nearest outstanding-rated primary is St Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Haslingden, 3.4 km away, which may be an alternative for families who prioritise that Ofsted grade. Crawshawbooth is best suited to families in the immediate catchment area who want a well-regarded, oversubscribed primary with strong academic outcomes and a broad extracurricular offer, but who are comfortable that it is not an Outstanding school and that securing a place may require a first-preference application.

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