Rishton Methodist Primary School

Rishton Methodist Primary School has demonstrated effective action to maintain its quality of education since the last inspection, showcasing a commitment to both academic and personal success for its pupils. The welcoming atmosphere of the school sharply contrasts with concerns about educational consistency, where many pupils feel safe and valued, leading to noteworthy achievement overall. The school places significant emphasis on the welfare of its pupils, incorporating well-designed outdoor spaces and a positive behavioral management approach that fosters a productive learning environment.

Strengths

• Pupils feel safe and happy at school.
• The school has high ambitions for academic and personal success.
• Curriculum is well-organized and builds on prior knowledge.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• Phonics program is well-delivered, promoting confidence in reading.
• Strong emphasis on pupils' well-being and mental health.
• Positive relationships among pupils, promoting a harmonious atmosphere.

Areas for Improvement

• Some learning activities are not well matched to the curriculum or pupils' prior knowledge.

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 Rishton Methodist Primary School attended 92.1% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.9% 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, 2.5% of pupils at Rishton Methodist Primary School 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 Rishton Methodist Primary School had 18.3 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 0.0% 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, 24.5% of pupils at Rishton Methodist Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.5% 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 Rishton Methodist Primary School received £8,931 and spent £9,127 for each of its 143 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £76,000 (£531 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 Blackburn · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Rishton Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Rishton Methodist Primary School is Good, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Rishton Methodist Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Rishton Methodist Primary School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Rishton Methodist Primary School have?

Rishton Methodist Primary School has 143 pupils on roll.

What age range does Rishton Methodist Primary School cover?

Rishton Methodist Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Rishton Methodist Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Rishton Methodist Primary School?

Rishton Methodist Primary School is at George Street, Rishton, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 4JF.