Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery

Bickerstaffe Voluntary Controlled Church of England School and Nursery is performing well overall, achieving a good rating in all aspects of its educational provision. The school fosters a positive learning environment where pupils are happy, safe, and eager to learn, supported by strong leadership that emphasizes a love of life and learning. Noteworthy is the outstanding early years provision, which prepares children exceptionally well for their transition to key stage 1. However, there are areas of the curriculum that require clarity in identifying the key knowledge and skills pupils need to learn, which, when not properly aligned, can hinder some pupils’ learning experiences.

Strengths

• Strong leadership and management foster a positive school culture.
• High expectations for pupils' achievements contribute to their eagerness to learn.
• Well-structured and ambitious curriculum for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• Effective assessment strategies enable teachers to deliver the curriculum successfully.
• Outstanding early years provision prepares children exceptionally well.
• Strong emphasis on reading with a wide range of resources promoting engagement.
• Positive and respectful behaviour amongst pupils creates a calm learning environment.
• Supportive culture among staff enhancing professional development.

Areas for Improvement

• In some subjects, the important content for pupil learning is not clearly identified.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery attended 92.8% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 23.9% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 3.0% of pupils at Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). One pupil was permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery had 18.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 8.6% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 22.2% of pupils at Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 7.8% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery received £10,621 and spent £11,186 for each of its 90 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £76,000 (£848 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24).

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Ormskirk · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery last inspected by Ofsted?

Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery have?

Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery has 90 pupils on roll.

What age range does Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery cover?

Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 43% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery?

Bickerstaffe CofE Primary School and Nursery is at Hall Lane, Bickerstaffe, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 0EH.