Leyland St James Church of England Primary School

Leyland St James Church of England Primary School continues to demonstrate strong performance, maintaining its good status in this inspection. The school fosters a positive learning environment where pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), feel safe and valued. Relationships between staff and pupils are distinguished by warmth and respect, contributing to a culture of engagement and achievement. Many pupils achieve well academically, with teaching methods enabling effective learning and recall of important concepts. Parents express satisfaction with the quality of education provided, highlighting a commitment to broader development through various initiatives. However, the inspection pointed out areas needing improvement, particularly regarding the availability of extra-curricular activities for pupils in key stage 1. This limitation may hinder some pupils from exploring their interests and developing talents beyond the academic curriculum. Additionally, there are concerns about the effectiveness of the governing body's challenge to school leaders, which could lead to improvements in accountability and overall school performance.

Strengths

• Pupils are eager to learn and feel safe in a supportive environment.
• Strong relationships between staff and students contribute to a positive school culture.
• Effective leadership is committed to ambitious curriculum delivery for all pupils.
• Teachers present concepts clearly and check students' understanding regularly.
• Strong emphasis on reading and communication skills from early years onward.
• Pupils with SEND are well integrated and actively participate in school life.
• Pupils demonstrate good behaviour and respect for diversity.

Areas for Improvement

• Limited range of extra-curricular activities for key stage 1 pupils.
• Governors do not challenge leaders effectively enough.

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 Leyland St James Church of England Primary School attended 95.5% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 9.7% 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 Leyland St James 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 Leyland St James Church of England Primary School had 26.8 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, 16.3% of pupils at Leyland St James Church of England Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 2.4% 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 Leyland St James Church of England Primary School received £6,681 and spent £6,333 for each of its 209 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £127,000 (£607 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 Leyland · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Leyland St James Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Leyland St James Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in July 2023.

When was Leyland St James Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Leyland St James Church of England Primary School was last inspected in July 2023.

How many pupils does Leyland St James Church of England Primary School have?

Leyland St James Church of England Primary School has 209 pupils on roll.

What age range does Leyland St James Church of England Primary School cover?

Leyland St James Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

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

In 2025, 74% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Leyland St James Church of England Primary School?

Leyland St James Church of England Primary School is at Slater Lane, Leyland, Lancashire, PR26 7SH.