Colne Primet Academy

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed

Part of PENDLE EDUCATION TRUST

Dent Street, Colne, BB8 8JF

01282 863970 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedRequires improvementInspected 28 November 2023
Grade 5 or above in English and maths24%England 45% · 2024/25
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 8% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils805Room for 1,050 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 366 in 2019, 642 in 2021, 746 in 2022, 827 in 2023, 864 in 2024, 858 in 2025, 805 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.7105 for 154 places, September 2026
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 14% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 28 November 2023.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementRequires improvement
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

82 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.

Lancashire comparisons use the 31 of its 83 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 52 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolLancashireEngland
My child is happy at this school
Joint 10th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 49% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 78% 88%
My child feels safe at this school
20th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
82% 83% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
Joint 12th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 61% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
83% 74% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 42 parents whose child had been bullied
Joint 17th highest of 28 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 31% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
43% 47% 49%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 71 parents who had raised a concern
13th highest of 29 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 48% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70% 65% 75%
I would recommend this school to another parent
13th highest of 31 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire.
Higher than 46% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
78%said yes 74% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Lancashire figures pool parents at the Lancashire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

161 pupils in this year group.

24% — 19 points below the Lancashire average, and 21 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 24% 44% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 35.4 45.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.2 4.0 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 23%This school 2023/24: 18%This school 2024/25: 24% This school England 45% 2022/23 23% 2023/24 18% 2024/25 24%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

127 pupils in this year group.

83% — 7 points below the Lancashire average, and 9 points below the England average.

Where pupils went after Year 11
This school 77%14%
England 34%13%37%
MeasureThis schoolLancashireEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 83% 90% 92%
School sixth form 2% 12% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 20% 13%
Further education college 77% 48% 37%
Apprenticeship 2% 5% 3%
Work 2% 4% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
88%83%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered154
Families who put it first105
Of those, offered a place105 (100%)
Families who listed it at all567

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.7

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.

Admissions dates and schools in Lancashire

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolLancashireEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 73% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
37.9% 26.4%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 60% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
3.4% 2.5%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 63% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
15.5% 13.2%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 85% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
36.9% 12.2%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Lower than 4% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
13.2% 8.3%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Lower than 3% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
41.8% 22.8%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Lower than 9% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
59.4 21.6 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
3rd lowest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Lower than 2% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
23.1% 8.1% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils 0.70% 0.53% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 7% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
14.0 16.7 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
3rd highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 7% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
9.3 11.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
1st highest of 3 state secondary schools in Colne.
Higher than 77% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
19.1% 12.5%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary 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.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Colne Primet Academy's Ofsted rating?

Colne Primet Academy was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 28 November 2023.

How did Colne Primet Academy do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 24% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 21 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Colne Primet Academy?

78% of the 82 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Colne Primet Academy to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Colne Primet Academy oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 105 families put Colne Primet Academy as their first choice for 154 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 105 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

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Page updated 26 September 2026.