Rishton Methodist Primary School

About Rishton Methodist Primary School

Rishton Methodist Primary School’s headline Key Stage 2 result sits just below the Lancashire local authority average for primary schools. The school achieved 57% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 60%. That three-point gap is modest, but it places Rishton 271st out of 480 primary schools in the county, putting it in the bottom half of Lancashire primaries. Within its own borough of Hyndburn, the school ranks 12th out of 31 schools on the same metric, which is a more encouraging picture — comfortably in the top half locally. The school’s overall Ofsted rating is Good, a grade it has held across both its most recent graded inspection in 2015 and its ungraded inspection in March 2025, where inspectors confirmed that standards were maintained. With 157 pupils on roll against a capacity of 226, the school is significantly undersubscribed, and 43.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average.

Looking closer at the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, the picture is mixed. In maths, 87% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 105, both solid figures. Reading was weaker, with 70% reaching the expected standard and an average score of 104. Writing saw 78% at expected. Where the school really struggles is at the higher standard: only 4% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, and just 17% hit the higher bar in maths and reading individually. The school’s Progress 8 scores are not available, so it’s hard to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Parent feedback is overwhelmingly positive — 92% of the 12 respondents would recommend the school, and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy and feels safe. However, a quarter of parents disagreed that bullying is dealt with quickly and effectively, which is a notable minority concern.

The school offers a Methodist religious character and a nursery provision for children from age three. Facilities include a sensory room, chapel, library and ICT suite, and there is a broad range of clubs from gardening and eco club to coding and chess. Sports on offer include tennis, dance, athletics and cross country. The school’s SEND provisions cover eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support — though no parents responded to the specific SEND question in the Parent View survey, so it’s unclear how well these are perceived. Admissions for 2025/26 show the school was oversubscribed, with 44 applications for 24 places and 20 first-preference offers made. This is a small, community-focused primary that suits families who value a strong pastoral environment and a Methodist ethos, but whose academic results are slightly below the county average, particularly at the higher attainment levels.

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