St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

About St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School

Parent feedback at St Bartholomew's Church of England Primary School is a mixed bag, which makes it worth a closer look. In the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, 65% of the 17 respondents said they would recommend the school. That's a solid majority, but it's worth noting that 35% said they wouldn't. On the positive side, 100% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that the school makes them aware of what their child will learn, and 94% felt the same about the range of subjects and clubs available. However, concerns about how issues are handled are more divided: 29% strongly agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, while 18% strongly disagreed. The school is clearly popular in the local area — it received 55 applications for just 20 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.75. All 20 first-preference applicants were offered a place, so getting your child in is competitive but not impossible if you live nearby.

Academically, St Bartholomew's performs around the middle of the pack. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 65% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That's slightly above the Lancashire local authority average of 60% for primary schools. The school's ranking within Rossendale puts it 13th out of 31 primary schools, and nationally it sits in the 45th percentile. Looking at individual subjects, reading scores were strongest: 78% of pupils met the expected standard and 17% reached the higher standard. Maths saw 65% at expected and 9% at higher, while writing had 70% at expected but only 4% at higher. The average scaled scores were 103 for reading and 100 for maths. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, confirmed a Good rating overall, with leadership and management, early years provision and behaviour all judged Good. This is a notable improvement from the Requires Improvement rating it received in 2013.

The school is a Church of England primary with 167 pupils on roll, operating just below its capacity of 175. Facilities include a sensory room, forest school area, art studios and a chapel, which reflects its religious character. Sports provision covers netball, tennis, rounders, football, cricket and gymnastics, while clubs range from chess and coding to gardening and choir. The school has a strong SEND focus, with provisions for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment and autistic spectrum disorder. With 40.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a relatively disadvantaged catchment. This is a school that suits families who value a clear, structured approach to learning and want their child to attend a popular local primary with a Christian ethos, but who are also prepared to engage actively with the school on any concerns that arise.

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