Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School
Rossendale, BB4 7UA · Lancashire · primary school
Check the area around this school
436th 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 — 0.1/10 against 850 of them, against 0.5/10 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 | 20.0 · 1 | 62% | 0.06 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 38% | 0.40 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 20.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared to the national median of 64%. The higher standard was reached by 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (0.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 0.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils join Forest School and Eco Group clubs, play football, dodgeball, athletics, hula hooping, cross country and street dance, and can attend breakfast and after-school clubs.
Getting in
The published school roll is 112 pupils against a stated capacity of 210. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to progress from the 20.0% expected standard to the higher standard? What specific strategies are used to close the gap with the national median? How does the Forest School curriculum integrate with the core academic subjects?
What Ofsted said about Rawtenstall Newchurch Church of England Primary School
Overview
The report describes a school where "relationships between staff and pupils... are warm and nurturing" and pupils "behave positively." However, the quality of education and early years provision "Requires improvement" because the new curriculum is "not fully embedded," leaving pupils with "gaps in their knowledge." Leaders are taking "swift and effective action" to address these weaknesses, particularly in reading and attendance.
Strengths
- Pupils "celebrate and respect each other’s uniqueness" and enjoy taking on responsibilities like play leaders and school councillors.
- Behaviour is "Good," with a new policy having a "positive impact" and strong efforts to decrease absence rates.
- Personal development is "Good," with an effective PSHE curriculum that helps pupils understand "fundamental British values."
- Staff are "tenacious in seeking, and acting upon, advice from specialists" to support pupils with special educational needs.
- Governors are "acutely aware of the school’s areas for development" and check the impact of improvement work.
Areas to improve
- The early years curriculum lacks clarity, meaning the school has "not identified with enough precision what children... should learn at each stage."
- The new curriculum across many subjects is "not fully embedded," resulting in pupils having "key gaps in their knowledge."
- Systems for checking the impact of the new curriculum are "in their infancy," hindering the school’s ability to identify and address learning gaps.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 44% |
| 2023/24 | 31% |
| 2024/25 | 20% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
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.
Next dates
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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