Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School is performing at an outstanding level across all areas of its educational provision. The school creates a nurturing environment where every pupil feels valued, accepted, and safe. With exceptionally high expectations for all students, the school has developed a rich curriculum that prepares pupils effectively for future educational challenges. This inspection is particularly significant as it is the first routine inspection since the school was deemed outstanding in its previous inspection in 2008, and it has continued to maintain this high standard since then.

Strengths

• Exceptional supportive environment for pupils
• Outstanding achievement across all year groups
• Highly effective early years provision
• Exemplary behaviour and attitudes among pupils
• Strong emphasis on personal development and community contribution
• Rich and aspirational curriculum that benefits all students, including those with SEND
• Effective teaching of phonics leading to strong reading skills

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 Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School attended 96.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 7.8% 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, 0.0% of pupils at Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were 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 Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School had 24.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 20.0% 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, 10.7% of pupils at Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.3% 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 Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School received £7,082 and spent £7,220 for each of its 121 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £71,000 (£584 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 Nelson · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School have?

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School has 121 pupils on roll.

What age range does Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School cover?

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 88% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School?

Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School is at Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 6QT.