Hawes Side Academy
65%
Capacity
412
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Hawes Side Academy
Hawes Side Academy is a state primary school in Blackpool that currently educates 412 pupils, well below its capacity of 630. The school serves a community with a high level of disadvantage: 38.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, significantly above the national average of around 23%. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand. For the 2025/26 intake, it received 68 applications for just 28 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.43 to one. All 25 first-preference applicants were offered a place, meaning the school is popular among local families but not yet at the point where a first-preference application guarantees a spot. The school is a mixed, non-religious setting for children aged 4 to 11, and is led by headteacher Caroline Boothroyd.
Academically, the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership. This is consistent with its previous Good rating in 2015. However, Key Stage 2 outcomes in the 2023/24 academic year were below local and national averages. Just 22% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the Blackpool local authority average of 58%. In individual subjects, 59% met expectations in writing, 41% in maths, and 37% in reading. The school’s average scaled scores were 99 in both reading and maths, just below the national benchmark of 100. These results place Hawes Side 23rd out of 23 primary schools in Blackpool on the combined measure, and in the bottom 50% nationally.
The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, forest school, gymnasium, art studios and a chapel, plus sports such as athletics, tennis, swimming, cricket and cross country. Clubs include drama, book club, science club and eco club. Its SEND provision is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. For families considering Hawes Side, the key trade-off is clear: the school is a well-regarded, inclusive community with strong pastoral support and a Good Ofsted rating, but its academic outcomes are currently the weakest in the local authority. It may suit families who prioritise a supportive environment and wide-ranging enrichment over top-tier exam results.
Key Details
| School Type | Primary (State) |
| Age Range | 4 to 11 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Johnsville Avenue, Blackpool, Blackpool, FY4 3LN |
| Headteacher | Caroline Boothroyd |
| Local Authority | Blackpool |
| Number of Pupils | 412 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 38.1% |
| School Capacity | 412 / 630 (65% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
2 Feb 2022Overall Effectiveness
Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 21 Mar 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths (22%)
13510th of 13,686
Nationally
2033rd of 2,065
In North West
23rd of 23
In Blackpool
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE KS2 Reading, Writing & Maths data
KS2 SATs Results
2023/24Reading, Writing & Maths Combined
22%
Expected Standard
0%
Higher Standard
'22/23
43%
'23/24
22%
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. National expected standard benchmark is around 65%.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
9Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed28
68
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
25 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British91.5%
- Mixed2.9%
- White (other)1.9%
- Asian1.1%
- Black0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hawes Side Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Contact Information
Johnsville Avenue, Blackpool
Blackpool, FY4 3LN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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