Withnell Fold Primary School

About Withnell Fold Primary School

Withnell Fold Primary School’s headline KS2 results sit well below the Lancashire local authority average, which is a notable contrast for parents to weigh up. Just 27% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 60%. That places the school in the bottom 50 nationally for this metric, ranked 46th out of 46 primary schools in Chorley. However, the picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects: 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in both reading and maths, and average scores of 106 in reading and 105 in maths are solid. The real drag comes from writing, where only 36% met expectations. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in January 2025, confirmed that standards are being maintained, and it retains a Good overall effectiveness rating from its last graded inspection in 2015.

Academically, the data suggests a school that performs unevenly across the core subjects. While reading and maths outcomes are broadly in line with national expectations, writing is a clear weakness, and the combined RWM figure of 27% is significantly below the LA benchmark. Progress scores are not available in the data, so it’s hard to say whether pupils are improving at a typical rate. The school’s Ofsted history shows it was rated Outstanding in 2008, but its current Good rating reflects a more measured assessment. In the Parent View survey, 82% of respondents would recommend the school, and strong majorities agreed that children are happy (94% combined strongly agree/agree) and feel safe (97%). However, only 69% agreed that the school has high expectations for their child, and 36% disagreed that concerns are dealt with properly, suggesting some parental dissatisfaction around communication and ambition.

Withnell Fold is a small village primary with 86 pupils on roll, operating below its capacity of 98. It is oversubscribed for 2025/26, with 29 applications for 9 places and 8 first-preference offers, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.22. The school offers a range of sports including swimming, tennis and cross country, plus clubs in drama, art and choir. Its SEND provisions cover moderate learning difficulties, speech and language needs, and social, emotional and mental health support, though the Parent View data shows no responses from parents of children with SEND, so it’s hard to gauge how well those provisions work in practice. Facilities include a library, playing fields, art studios and a chapel. This school may suit families who prioritise a small, community feel and strong pastoral care over headline academic results, particularly those whose children are stronger in reading and maths than in writing.

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