SchoolScoresMeadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 7 · Mixed · Nursery class
Shorrock Lane, Blackburn, BB2 4TT
01254 202600 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 4 October 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 8 December 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Blackburn with Darwen. 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 | 41 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 34 |
| Of those, offered a place | 34 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 64 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 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
| Pupils | This school | Blackburn with Darwen | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 8th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 44.8% | 26.5%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 3rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 91% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.9% | 3.7%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 1st highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 98% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 31.9% | 16.2%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 33rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 69% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 20.6% | 46.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 41st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 23% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 5.3%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 51st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 5% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 24.5% | 13.9%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.0% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 48th highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 20% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 17.6 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 53rd highest of 54 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 6% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 7.3 | 10.3 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year Joint 41st highest of 53 state primary schools in Blackburn. Higher than 0% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 11.4%* | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- Meadowhead Junior School 0.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), some aspects weaker 2025 · 40% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Aidan's Primary School - A CofE Academy 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 23% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Peter's Roman Catholic Primary School, Blackburn 0.4 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 56% met expected standard (KS2)
- Griffin Park Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Livesey Saint Francis' CofE School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 60% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Luke and St Philips CofE Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 46% met expected standard (KS2)
- Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 85% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longshaw Community Junior School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Longshaw Infant School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 strong, 6 expected
- Wensley Fold CofE Primary Academy 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2023) · 83% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?
Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 4 October 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 8 December 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Is Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 34 families put Meadowhead Community Infant School and Nursery as their first choice for 41 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 34 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 119122.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.