The Roebuck School

About The Roebuck School

The Roebuck School in Preston was rated Good across all categories in its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, a clear improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2018. The school’s headteacher, Jill Alexander-Steele, leads a primary that serves 338 pupils aged 3 to 11. The most telling exam metric comes from the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results: only 40% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That figure sits well below the Lancashire local authority average of 60%, and it places the school 40th out of 45 primaries in Preston, putting it in the bottom half of schools locally. Nationally, it ranks in the 92nd percentile among all state primaries, meaning roughly 92% of schools outperform it on this combined measure. The school’s ranking score of 40 places it firmly in the bottom 50 tier nationally.

Breaking the KS2 results down by subject gives a more nuanced picture. In writing, 72% of pupils met the expected standard, which is a solid showing, and 9% reached the higher standard. Reading saw 60% at expected and 14% at the higher level, with an average scaled score of 103. Maths was weaker: 58% at expected, 7% at higher, and an average score of 100. Only 2% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three subjects. The school does not have Progress 8 data available, so it is difficult to say how much value it adds relative to pupils’ starting points. Ofsted noted that behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management are all Good, and the early years provision is also rated Good. The school has a relatively high proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 35.5%, which may partly explain the gap between its results and the LA average.

The Roebuck School is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 64 applications for 42 places, with 34 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.52. Facilities include playing fields, a sports hall, gymnasium, library, ICT suite, music rooms and even a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, tennis, athletics, rounders and dance, while clubs range from gardening and chess to choir, book club and film club. The school has nursery provision for younger children and reports SEND support for specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and speech, language and communication needs. For families seeking an Outstanding-rated alternative, the nearest such school is The Olive School, Preston, 1.6 km away. The Roebuck School may suit families who value its improved Ofsted rating and broad facilities, though the below-average KS2 results are worth weighing carefully.

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