Royal Cross Primary School

Royal Cross Primary School continues to showcase remarkable performance following its previous outstanding inspection, highlighting that it has taken effective actions to maintain high standards. The school provides a nurturing environment where all pupils, who are deaf, experience significant improvements in their learning and communication skills, benefiting from a well-structured and aspirational curriculum tailored to their needs. The school emphasizes strong reading skills and ensures that teaching staff are well-equipped to support the diverse needs of all pupils, fostering a culture of positivity and high expectations.

Strengths

• Pupils flourish in a supportive and caring atmosphere.
• The school has high expectations for all pupils' achievements.
• The curriculum is broad, exciting, and well-structured.
• Excellent support for developing pupils' communication skills.
• Strong emphasis on reading with an ambitious phonics programme.
• Staff engage in valuable training to enhance their subject knowledge.
• Positive relationships with parents and professionals enhance pupil support.
• Pupils exhibit exceptionally good behavior and positive attitudes towards learning.

In 2024–25 pupils at Royal Cross Primary School attended 92.0% of sessions (the national figure for special schools was 87.2%). 35.3% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 35.3%).

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, 3.2% of pupils at Royal Cross Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 5.1%). 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 Royal Cross Primary School had 8.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for special schools was 6.6). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 28.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.5%).

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 Royal Cross Primary School had 34 pupils, 100.0% of them with an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 99.5%).

It says it provides for: specific learning difficulty; speech, language and communication needs; hearing impairment.

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 special school schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2025–26 Royal Cross Primary School received £38,563 and spent £39,238 for each of its 34 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £75,000 (£2,216 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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• Secondary Schools

All schools in Preston · Lancashire local authority: places and applications

What is Royal Cross Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Royal Cross Primary School is Outstanding, from an inspection in April 2025.

When was Royal Cross Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Royal Cross Primary School was last inspected in April 2025.

How many pupils does Royal Cross Primary School have?

Royal Cross Primary School has 34 pupils on roll.

What age range does Royal Cross Primary School cover?

Royal Cross Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.

What are Royal Cross Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 0% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Royal Cross Primary School?

Royal Cross Primary School is at Elswick Road, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, Lancashire, PR2 1NT.