Broomfields Junior School

Broomfields Junior School has demonstrated a good overall performance during its first inspection, following its conversion to an academy. The school has carved out a positive and nurturing environment for its pupils, enabling them to flourish academically and personally. Notable strengths include the school's effective leadership, dedicated staff, and a well-structured curriculum that encourages high achievement. Pupils exhibit exemplary behavior and strong relationships, contributing to a vibrant learning atmosphere where they are encouraged to pursue their goals passionately. However, there are areas for improvement, particularly in the assessment methods used in a few subjects, which do not fully capture gaps in pupils' knowledge and can hinder their learning progress. Additionally, certain pupils, especially those struggling with reading, require better support to develop their phonics skills more effectively. Addressing these challenges is essential for the school to maintain its commitment to excellence and high standards of education.

Strengths

• Pupils achieve highly and enjoy learning.
• Exemplary behavior and positive relationships among pupils.
• A nurturing environment that supports personal development.
• Strong leadership and effective challenge from the local governing board.
• High-quality professional development for staff.
• Well-structured curriculum with a focus on reading.
• Effective support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
• High standards of attendance and punctuality.

Areas for Improvement

• Assessment strategies in a small number of subjects are not well established.
• Some pupils struggling with reading are not adequately supported in phonics.

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 Broomfields Junior School attended 96.3% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 5.5% 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, 1.7% of pupils at Broomfields Junior 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 Broomfields Junior School had 23.4 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 11.1% 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, 12.1% of pupils at Broomfields Junior School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 3.4% 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 2024–25 Broomfields Junior School received £6,300 and spent £6,433 for each of its 344 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £179,000 (£521 per pupil).

Across all 14 schools of The Challenge Academy Trust, income was £7,634 and spending £7,638 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). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Warrington · Warrington local authority: places and applications

Broomfields Junior School is part of The Challenge Academy Trust, which runs 14 schools. The nearest others:

• Bridgewater High School Warrington
• Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School Warrington
• Priestley College Warrington
• Appleton Thorn Primary School Warrington
• Beamont Collegiate Academy Warrington
• Padgate Academy Warrington
• Meadowside Community Primary and Nursery School Warrington
• Dallam Community Primary School Warrington
• Great Sankey Primary School Warrington
• Penketh High School Warrington

What is Broomfields Junior School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Broomfields Junior School is Good, from an inspection in June 2024.

When was Broomfields Junior School last inspected by Ofsted?

Broomfields Junior School was last inspected in June 2024.

How many pupils does Broomfields Junior School have?

Broomfields Junior School has 323 pupils on roll.

What age range does Broomfields Junior School cover?

Broomfields Junior School for pupils aged 7 to 11.

What are Broomfields Junior School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Broomfields Junior School?

Broomfields Junior School is at Bridge Lane, Appleton, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 3AH.