SchoolScoresBarrowford School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Rushton Street, Barrowford, Barrowford Primary School, Nelson, BB9 6EA
01282 615644 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 21 April 2026 , published 7 June 2026.
In short: 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding met.
Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. | Met |
| InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. | Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects. |
| Early yearsNursery and reception classes. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
| Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. | Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this. |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
60 pupils in this year group.
50% — 10 points below the Lancashire average, and 12 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 50% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 72% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 50% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 60% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 102 | 104 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Lancashire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 19 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 16 |
| Of those, offered a place | 16 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 47 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
Specialist SEND provision: this school has a SEN unit with 16 places for social, emotional and mental health needs. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 6th highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 82% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 41.6% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 99% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 15.6% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 77% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.0% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 13th highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 64% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 17.1% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 17th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Lower than 0% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 11.3% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 17th lowest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Lower than 0% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 40.9% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 16th highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 15% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.8 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 17th highest of 17 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 5% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.2 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Nelson. Higher than 67% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 17.6% | 12.9%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby primary schools
- Barrowford St Thomas CofE Primary School 0.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 88% met expected standard (KS2)
- Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Primary School, Nelson 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2024 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Bradley Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2024 · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Al-Ikhlaas Primary School 0.8 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- Lomeshaye Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Nelson St Philip's CofE Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 58% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whitefield Infant School and Nursery 1.0 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025)
- Blacko Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2022 · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Colne Primet Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- Roughlee CofE Primary School 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 100% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Barrowford School's Ofsted rating?
Barrowford School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 21 April 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 2 expected, 5 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.
How did Barrowford School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 50% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 12 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Barrowford School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 16 families put Barrowford School as their first choice for 19 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 16 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 119166.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.