SchoolScoresSt James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed · Church of England
Greenacre Street, St. James C of E Primary Schoo, Clitheroe, BB7 1ED
01200 423599 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 30 June 2015.
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 |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 19 March 2025: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
60 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Clitheroe comparisons use the 8 of its 16 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 8 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.
| Statement | This school | Clitheroe | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 18% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 88% | 93% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 15% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 87% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 16% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 78% | 89% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 24 parents whose child had been bullied 6th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 29% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 46% | 51% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 43 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 7 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 3% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 51% | 75% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 11 parents of children with SEND 46th highest of 49 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 3% of 2,087 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 36% | – | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 8th highest of 8 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Clitheroe. Higher than 11% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73%said yes | 86% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 22%). 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. Clitheroe figures pool parents at the Clitheroe 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
45 pupils in this year group.
51% — 9 points below the Lancashire average, and 11 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 51% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 2% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 73% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 64% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 64% | 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. | 101 | 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 | 15 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 13 |
| Of those, offered a place | 13 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 58 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.9 · 2025: 0.5 · 2026: 0.9
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.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 4th highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 42% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.4% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 13th highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 17% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.4% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 5th highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 73% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 18.1% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 3rd highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 49% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.4% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Lower than 74% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 10th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.7% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 16th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Lower than 17% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 4.7 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 16th lowest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Lower than 8% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 3.2% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 11th highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 45% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 20.2 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 16 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 64% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.5 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 2nd highest of 11 state primary schools in Clitheroe. Higher than 97% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 44.0% | 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.
Nearby primary schools
- St Michael and St John's Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 0.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023, before conversion) · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Edisford Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2020), confirmed 2025 · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clitheroe Brookside Primary School 0.6 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 1 expected, 6 needs attention · 50% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clitheroe Pendle Primary School 0.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Moorland School Limited 1.0 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI · 0% A*/A at A level
- Barrow URC Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Waddington and West Bradford CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 55% met expected standard (KS2)
- Chatburn CofE Primary School 2.5 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Grindleton CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 3.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 14% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe's Ofsted rating?
St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 30 June 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 19 March 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 51% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 11 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe?
73% of the 60 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 13 families put St James' CofE Primary School, Clitheroe as their first choice for 15 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 13 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 119419.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- 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.