Heasandford Primary School

About Heasandford Primary School

Heasandford Primary School’s headline metrics sit below the Lancashire local authority average for Key Stage 2, which stands at 60 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. At Heasandford, that figure is 49 per cent, placing the school 19th out of 28 primary schools in Burnley and in the bottom half nationally. The gap is notable, but the school’s progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say whether pupils arrive behind and catch up or whether attainment reflects a broader challenge. What is clear is that the school is large and oversubscribed: with 632 pupils against a capacity of 630, and 180 applications for 88 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, demand far outstrips supply. That level of local interest suggests families see something valuable here beyond the raw headline numbers.

In its most recent Ofsted inspection, carried out in March 2024, Heasandford was rated Good across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This is a consistent improvement from its previous inspection in 2018, which also rated overall effectiveness as Good but gave early years a Requires Improvement. The school’s KS2 results show 72 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, and 69 per cent in writing, while reading lagged at 61 per cent. At the higher standard, 18 per cent achieved in reading, 17 per cent in writing, and 13 per cent in maths. Only 9 per cent reached the higher standard across all three subjects. The school ranks 336th out of 480 primary schools in Lancashire, putting it in the bottom half of the county.

Heasandford is a large, mixed, non-faith state primary in Burnley, with no nursery or sixth form provision. It offers a broad range of facilities including a sensory room, ICT suite, art studios, sports hall, and playing fields, plus clubs in drama, coding, and eco activities. Sports on offer include netball, cricket, athletics, tennis, gymnastics, swimming, and football. The school has identified SEND provisions for social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, and hearing impairment. With 34.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged community. For families who value a Good-rated school with strong local demand and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities, Heasandford is a solid choice, though those prioritising top-tier academic outcomes may want to look at higher-performing peers in the area.

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