Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy

About Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy

Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy is a Church of England state primary in Blackburn with Darwen that clearly commands strong local confidence. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 189 applications for just 59 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.2. Of those applications, 58 were first-preference choices, and 46 families received first-preference offers. That level of demand suggests parents who know the school well are actively choosing it. The school is one of only four primaries in the local authority rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and its most recent inspection in September 2023 awarded top marks across every category: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. This continues a pattern of excellence — the previous inspection in 2009 also rated the school Outstanding overall.

Academically, Wensley Fold performs well above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Blackburn with Darwen average of 59%. The school ranks 20th out of 52 primaries in the LA on this measure, placing it in the top 40% locally. Subject-level results are strong: 90% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 107, while reading and writing both saw 77% reaching the expected standard. Higher-standard attainment is more modest — 3% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects — but the school’s focus appears to be on solid, consistent progress for the majority. Nationally, it sits in the top third of all primaries for combined expected standards.

The school offers a practical, well-equipped environment for its 473 pupils. Facilities include a forest school, chapel, art studios and an outdoor playground, while the sports programme covers dance, netball, swimming, cross country, athletics and cricket. After-school clubs include art, eco, film, science and gardening. SEND provision is broad, covering social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication, hearing impairment and physical disability. The school also has a nursery for children from age three. With an oversubscription ratio of 3.2 and a strong Ofsted record, Wensley Fold is a popular choice for local families who value a Church of England ethos and consistent academic outcomes. It is particularly suited to parents seeking a primary with good facilities and a clear track record of meeting expected standards.

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