Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School

Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School has shown notable improvements and is currently performing well across all areas evaluated. Pupils express enjoyment in their school life, feel supported by staff, and have strong relationships, contributing to a safe and positive learning environment. The recent upgrade from a previous inspection grade of 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good' reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to enhancing education and supporting diverse learners, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Parents hold the school in high regard, indicating a strong community connection and support for the school's initiatives. The school's curriculum has been described as ambitious and well-structured, notably in subjects such as writing and mathematics, where pupils are achieving above average results. Staff, including subject leaders, demonstrate a clear understanding of their educational goals. Despite these strengths, there are areas requiring attention, particularly in developing a more robust approach to mathematics and specific subjects like geography. The school is well-positioned to build on its successes and address the identified weaknesses effectively.

Strengths

• Pupils enjoy school and have high levels of attendance.
• Strong relationships among pupils and staff create a positive learning environment.
• Leaders have high expectations for all pupils, including those with SEND.
• The ambitious curriculum allows pupils to build on prior learning effectively.
• Pupils perform well in writing and mathematics, achieving above average results.
• Consistent approach to teaching reading fosters a love of literature among pupils.

Areas for Improvement

• Pupils' knowledge of basic number facts and multiplication tables needs strengthening.
• Curriculum plans in subjects like geography are not well developed.

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 Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School attended 96.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 4.4% 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, 1.4% of pupils at Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence 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 Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School had 22.6 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 37.5% 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, 11.4% of pupils at Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.5% 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 Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School received £7,341 and spent £7,436 for each of its 201 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £108,000 (£537 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).

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What is Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in May 2025.

When was Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School was last inspected in May 2025.

How many pupils does Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School have?

Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School has 201 pupils on roll.

What age range does Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School cover?

Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 5 to 11.

What are Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 71% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School?

Chorley, the Parish of St Laurence Church of England Primary School is at Highfield Road South, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 1RB.