SchoolScoresTonacliffe Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Tonacliffe Road, Whitworth, Tonacliffe School, Tonacliffe Road, Whitworth, OL12 8SS
01706 344609 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 2 July 2024.
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 |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
72 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Lancashire comparisons use the 239 of its 481 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 242 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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 184th highest of 239 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 90% | 94% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 167th highest of 239 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 34% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 93% | 95% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 184th highest of 239 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 29% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 85% | 90% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 25 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 68th highest of 141 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 52% of 6,022 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 56% | 53% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 53 parents who had raised a concern 167th highest of 224 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 26% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74% | 80% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 181st highest of 239 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Lancashire. Higher than 25% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 83%said yes | 89% | 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.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
44 pupils in this year group.
61% — about the same as the Lancashire average, and about the same as the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 61% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 5% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 80% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 68% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 77% | 74% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 103 | 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 about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 28 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 27 |
| Of those, offered a place | 27 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 71 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.9 · 2026: 1.0
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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 274th highest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.9% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 290th highest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 34% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support Joint 254th highest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 384th highest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 9% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.0% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 170th lowest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 76% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 129th lowest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 83% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 6.4% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 216th lowest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 58% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 246th lowest of 481 state primary schools in Lancashire. Lower than 50% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.7% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 192nd highest of 480 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 66% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 21.9 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 168th highest of 480 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 64% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 11.5 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 165th highest of 422 state primary schools in Lancashire. Higher than 55% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 14.0% | 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 Bartholomew's CofE Primary School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Shawclough Community Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2023 · 63% met expected standard (KS2)
- Our Lady and St Anselm's Roman Catholic Primary School, Whitworth 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Healey Foundation Primary School 1.2 miles · Ofsted: Good (2015), confirmed 2025 · 73% met expected standard (KS2)
- Meanwood Community Nursery and Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 39% met expected standard (KS2)
- Norden Primary Academy 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012, before conversion), confirmed 2023 · 53% met expected standard (KS2)
- Greenbank Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- All Saints CofE Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 69% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Primary School, A Voluntary Academy 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2023, before conversion) · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Caldershaw Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024, before conversion) · 90% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Tonacliffe Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Tonacliffe Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 2 July 2024.
How did Tonacliffe Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 61% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, about the same as the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Tonacliffe Primary School?
83% of the 72 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Tonacliffe Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Tonacliffe Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 27 families put Tonacliffe Primary School as their first choice for 28 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 27 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 119271.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 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.