Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School

Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School continues to maintain a good standard of education. The school provides a nurturing environment where pupils feel safe and happy, and they thrive academically and socially. The curriculum is broad and ambitious, focusing not only on academic success but also on the personal development of pupils. Parents appreciate the supportive atmosphere, and pupils demonstrate kindness and a willingness to assist others in the community. Staff are dedicated to ensuring that all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities, achieve well and are fully included in school life. However, there are some areas for improvement. In a few subjects, the curriculum is still being refined, which leads to occasional uncertainties among teachers about lesson content and delivery. Additionally, some new subject leaders require further training to enhance their understanding and effectiveness in guiding the curriculum. Addressing these areas will help to ensure that all pupils can reach their full potential.

Strengths

• Pupils thrive in a caring and nurturing environment.
• Strong emphasis on personal development alongside academic progress.
• Well-organized curriculum in many subjects allows effective assessment and learning.
• Early years curriculum effectively prepares children for future learning.
• Strong support for pupils with SEND ensuring full participation in school life.
• High levels of pupil engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
• Effective safeguarding measures are in place.

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects have not finalized their curriculum content.
• Occasional lack of clarity for teachers on what to teach in some areas.
• New subject leaders lack sufficient knowledge and training to support staff effectively.

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 Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School attended 95.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 10.8% 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 Newton Bluecoat 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 Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School had 22.5 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, 10.7% of pupils at Newton Bluecoat 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 Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School received £6,950 and spent £7,277 for each of its 201 pupils. It ended the year with a deficit of £6,000 (-£30 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 Preston · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School is Good, from an inspection in December 2022.

When was Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School was last inspected in December 2022.

How many pupils does Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School have?

Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School has 206 pupils on roll.

What age range does Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School cover?

Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School?

Newton Bluecoat Church of England Primary School is at School Lane, Newton-with-Scales, Preston, Lancashire, PR4 3RT.