Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School

About Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School

Parents at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School are overwhelmingly positive about their experience, with 95% of respondents in the most recent Parent View survey saying they would recommend the school. That survey, covering the period from September 2024 to September 2025, drew 38 responses and showed particularly strong feelings about pupil happiness and safety: 87% of parents strongly agreed their child is happy, and 84% strongly agreed their child feels safe. Behaviour is another standout area, with 79% strongly agreeing pupils are well behaved. The school is clearly popular locally too — for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 11 applications for just 4 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.75. All four first-preference applicants were offered a place, but the numbers suggest families should be prepared to apply early. The school's Church of England character and small size, with just 55 pupils against a capacity of 56, add to its intimate feel.

Academically, the picture is more mixed. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 22% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which is well below the Lancashire local authority average of 60%. The school ranks 33rd out of 33 primary schools in Pendle on this measure, placing it in the bottom 50 nationally. However, the individual subject scores tell a slightly different story: 67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, with an average score of 101, and 78% did so in writing. Maths was weaker, with 33% reaching the expected standard and an average score of 98. No pupils achieved the higher standard in any of the three subjects. The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020, rated overall effectiveness as Good, with behaviour and attitudes and personal development both judged Outstanding. An ungraded inspection in June 2025 confirmed that standards were being maintained.

The school offers a solid range of facilities for its size, including a sensory room, ICT suite, music rooms, gymnasium, sports hall and chapel. Sports provision covers athletics, swimming, tennis, netball, gymnastics, rounders and cross country, while clubs include gardening, eco club, choir, film club, drama and coding. For children with additional needs, the school lists support for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary school is Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School, 2.8 km away. With its very small roll, strong parent satisfaction and clear focus on behaviour and personal development, this school will particularly suit families who value a close-knit, community-oriented environment and are comfortable with academic results that fall below the local average.

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