SchoolScoresWithnell Fold Primary School
Community school · Primary, ages 4 to 11 · Mixed
Withnell Fold, Withnell, Chorley, PR6 8BA
01254 830437 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 21 January 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 28 January 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
33 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Chorley comparisons use the 20 of its 40 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 20 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 | Chorley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 14th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chorley. Higher than 41% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 94% | 96% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 10th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chorley. Higher than 59% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 97% | 97% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 15th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chorley. Higher than 48% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 91% | 92% | 84% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 26 parents who had raised a concern 15th highest of 19 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chorley. Higher than 23% of 8,398 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 83% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 19th highest of 20 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Chorley. Higher than 23% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 82%said yes | 91% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 38%). 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. Chorley figures pool parents at the Chorley 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
12 pupils in this year group.
42% — 18 points below the Lancashire average, and 20 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 42% | 60% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 0% | 7% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 58% | 74% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 50% | 71% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 50% | 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 | 5 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 4 |
| Of those, offered a place | 4 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 28 |
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 | Lancashire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years Joint 33rd highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 6% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 5.8% | 25.3%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 30th highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 35% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 2.3% | 3.0%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 17th highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 39% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 12.8% | 13.7%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 20th highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 26% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 3.5% | 16.0%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 9th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 3.4% | 5.1%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) Joint 10th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Lower than 94% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.1% | 12.3%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 20th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Lower than 48% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2 | 2.6 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 25th lowest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Lower than 34% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 1.2% | 1.2% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 35th highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 14% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 16.6 | 21.1 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 6th highest of 40 state primary schools in Chorley. Higher than 81% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 12.8 | 10.5 | 10.6 |
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.
Nearby primary schools
- Brindle St James' CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 2 strong, 5 expected · 75% met expected standard (KS2)
- Brinscall St John's CofE and Methodist Primary School 1.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Withnell 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2019), confirmed 2024 · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Chad's Catholic Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 62% met expected standard (KS2)
- Abbey Village Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Westwood Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2019), confirmed 2024 · 44% met expected standard (KS2)
- St Bede's Catholic Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2012), confirmed 2022 · 65% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clayton Brook Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 32% met expected standard (KS2)
- Clayton-le-Woods Manor Road Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014), confirmed 2023 · 64% met expected standard (KS2)
- Whittle-le-Woods CofE Primary School 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2024) · 81% met expected standard (KS2)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Withnell Fold Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Withnell Fold Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 21 January 2015. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 28 January 2025, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Withnell Fold Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 42% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 20 points below the England average of 62%.
Would parents recommend Withnell Fold Primary School?
82% of the 33 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Withnell Fold Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Withnell Fold Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 4 families put Withnell Fold Primary School as their first choice for 5 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 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 119306.
- 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.