St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Primary School, Padiham

About St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Primary School, Padiham

St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Primary School in Padiham is a state-funded mixed primary for ages 3 to 11, and it is currently running above its official capacity. With 234 pupils on roll against a capacity of 210, the school is clearly popular locally, and the admission data for 2025/26 confirms that demand outstrips supply: 62 applications were received for just 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.07. Of those, 29 were first-preference applications, and 29 first-preference offers were made, meaning almost every family who put it first secured a place. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 23.5%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools (around 19%), suggesting the school serves a community with above-average economic disadvantage. As a Roman Catholic school, its intake is shaped by faith-based admissions criteria, though the high number of total applications indicates it draws families from across the Burnley area.

Academically, the school holds a Good rating from Ofsted, a grade it has maintained consistently across inspections in 2014 and 2023. In its most recent ungraded inspection in March 2023, the school was judged to have remained Good, with leadership and management also rated Good. At Key Stage 2 in 2023/24, 60% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, which matches the Lancashire local authority average of 60%. However, the school’s performance in individual subjects is stronger: 87% met expectations in writing, 73% in maths and 70% in reading. Higher-attaining pupils are less numerous, with just 3% achieving the higher standard across all three subjects. Nationally, the school ranks in the 57th percentile, placing it in the bottom half of primary schools, but within Burnley it sits 10th out of 28 schools, a solid mid-table position.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, music rooms, gymnasium, chapel, playing fields and a Forest School, which supports outdoor learning. Sports provision covers tennis, football, cricket, cross-country, swimming and dance, while clubs include science, art, book club, coding and chess. SEND support is broad, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder and social, emotional and mental health needs. There is nursery provision for children from age three. For families prioritising a faith-based primary with strong SEND support and a clear oversubscription pattern, this school is a realistic option, though the high demand means an application linked to the Catholic faith is likely essential. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School, 4.5 km away.

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