Worsthorne Primary School

About Worsthorne Primary School

Worsthorne Primary School sits slightly below the Lancashire local authority average for its key stage 2 headline measure, with 55 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the LA average of 60 per cent. That five-point gap places the school 285th out of 480 primary schools in the county, putting it in the bottom half of Lancashire primaries. Within Burnley itself, the school ranks 13th out of 28 schools on the same metric. The picture is more mixed when you look at individual subjects: 79 per cent of pupils met the expected standard in maths, which is a solid showing, and 72 per cent did so in reading. Writing is the weaker area, with only 55 per cent reaching the expected level. On the higher standard, 28 per cent of pupils achieved greater depth in maths and 45 per cent in reading, but just 17 per cent did so in writing and the same proportion across all three subjects combined.

The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2023, rated it Good overall, with a standout Outstanding grade for behaviour and attitudes. Every other category — quality of education, early years provision, personal development, and leadership and management — was judged Good. That represents a consistent picture compared with its previous inspection in 2013, which also awarded Good overall. In terms of progress scores, the data does not provide specific figures for reading, writing or maths, so it is not possible to say how much value the school adds relative to pupils’ starting points. The average reading score was 108 and the average maths score was 107, both slightly above the national benchmark of 100. The school’s ranking nationally places it in the bottom 50 per cent of all primaries, at the 68th percentile, which is a reminder that while it is a solidly Good school, it is not among the highest-performing in the country.

Worsthorne Primary is a small school with 211 pupils, just one over its official capacity, and it is clearly popular with local families. For the 2025/26 intake, there were 93 applications for 30 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.1 to one, and 39 first-preference applications for those 30 spots. That level of demand suggests it is a well-regarded choice in the Burnley area. The school offers a range of facilities including a sensory room, gymnasium, playing fields and an outdoor playground, plus a chapel on site. Sports provision includes gymnastics, tennis, athletics, swimming, rounders and cricket, and there are clubs such as eco club, gardening, coding and book club. The school has identified SEND provision for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and other difficulties or disabilities. It does not have a nursery or a sixth form. For families seeking a Good-rated primary with strong behaviour and a broad set of activities, Worsthorne is a solid local option, though those prioritising top academic outcomes may want to look at the nearest Outstanding school, Burnley Stoneyholme Community Primary School, 3.8 km away.

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