Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School
Nelson, BB9 6QT · Lancashire · primary school
12th of 448 primary schools in Lancashire we can score, 481 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 8.9/10 against 4,266 of them, against 8.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 88.0 · 96 | 40% | 3.85 |
| Ofsted | 96 | 35% | 3.37 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 13.0 · 78 | 25% | 1.94 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 88.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 13.0%. Ofsted rated the school Outstanding in November 2023. Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so they are not simply a reflection of who attends (8.9 out of 10 either way).
Beyond the classroom. Pupils join a choir and learn violin, guitar, or piano. Sports include football, netball, swimming, cross country, athletics, and Bikeability. Arts activities feature samba drumming and Chinese music workshops. Trips visit the Bolton Octagon theatre and Bridgewater Hall. An after-school club is available, but there is no breakfast club.
Getting in. The school has 121 pupils in a capacity of 119, meaning it is over capacity by 2. Consequently, places are competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school manage the waitlist given it is currently over capacity? What are the specific start and end times for the after-school club? How does the school support pupils who arrive without a morning meal, given there is no breakfast club?
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
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