Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is an academy converter in Burnley for pupils aged 4 to 11. It has a Methodist religious character. It has 207 pupils on roll. The latest Ofsted rating for Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023 of its predecessor, Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School. In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Ofsted inspection: April 2024. KS2 results: 2025.
| Type | Primary / Academy converter |
| Age Range | 4-11 |
| Religion | Methodist |
| Address | Fence Burnley Lancashire BB12 9ED |
| Phone | 01282617214 |
| Reference Number | 150581 |
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 207 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 46.38%
Girls: 53.62% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 6.8% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 1.4% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 29.6 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 29.3 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 29.8 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | 11 | 30 |
| 2 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| 3 | 16 | 14 | 30 |
| 4 | 11 | 18 | 29 |
| 5 | 13 | 17 | 30 |
| 6 | 9 | 21 | 30 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 85% |
| Asian, Other | 3.9% |
| Pakistani | 3.4% |
| White & Asian | 2.4% |
| Unclassified | 1.4% |
| Mixed, Other | 1.4% |
| White, Other | 0.5% |
| White & Black (Caribbean) | 0.5% |
| Irish | 0.5% |
This school has not been graded since it changed URN, usually on converting to an academy. The rating shown is from its predecessor, Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School, inspected in March 2023.
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Last Report Date | This school has not had an inspection yet. |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 06 Apr 2024 | Academy conversion letter |
How many students meet the standards
| Reading, Writing & Maths | School Score | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils meeting the expected standard | 72% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Pupils meeting a higher standard | 10% | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Average Scaled Score
Results are converted into scaled scores to allow accurate comparisons of performance over time even if the difficulty of the test varies over time. Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
| Subject | School | Percentile (local) | Percentile (nationwide) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 106 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Maths | 106 | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
Unlock Premium
See how Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School ranks locally and nationally. Percentile rankings against every other school, historic result charts, admissions data and post-GCSE destinations are all included.
£9.99 one-off payment. Lifetime access, no subscription.
Unlock for £9.99Reception admissions, 2026 entry
Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment | Locked: unlock for £9.99, one-off payment |
| Second Preference | 24 | 7 |
| Third Preference | 24 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 1 | 1 |
Previous years
Sample
UnlockPlaces and pupil numbers
In 2024–25 Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School had 208 pupils for 210 places. 2 places (1.0%) were unfilled.
Pupils and places
Reception intake in the “Pendle/Barrowford & Rural Primary” planning area
Lancashire counted 141 Reception pupils in this area in 2024–25 and forecasts 101 in 2029–30, down 28%.
| 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Places | 210 | 210 |
| Pupils | 208 | 208 |
| Unfilled | 1.0% | 1.0% |
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 Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School attended 95.6% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 11.0% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).
Sessions missed
Pupils persistently absent
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Authorised absence | 3.3% |
| Unauthorised absence | 1.2% |
| Severely absent pupils | 0.0% |
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 Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.
Pupils suspended at least once
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Suspensions per 100 pupils | 0.0 |
| Permanent exclusions | 0 |
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 Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School had 23.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 22.2% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).
Pupils per teacher
Teachers who left the school within a year
| 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Pupils per adult | 12.8 | 12.4 |
| Teachers who left state teaching | 11.1% | – |
| Teachers who took any sick leave | 77.8% | – |
| Sick days per teacher | 3.8 | – |
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, 17.9% of pupils at Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 1.9% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).
Pupils by main type of need
| SEN support | EHC plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Speech, language and communication needs | 12 | 1 |
| Social, emotional and mental health | 10 | 0 |
| Specific learning difficulty | 6 | 0 |
| Autistic spectrum disorder | 3 | 1 |
| No specialist assessment of need | 3 | 0 |
| Other difficulty or disability | 2 | 1 |
| Moderate learning difficulty | 0 | 1 |
| Multi-sensory impairment | 1 | 0 |
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 Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School received £6,120 and spent £6,123 for each of its 208 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £161,000 (£775 per pupil).
Across all 11 schools of Epworth Education Trust, income was £7,330 and spending £7,127 per pupil.
Income per pupil
Spending per pupil
| 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Revenue reserve | £161,000 |
| per pupil | £775 |
| In-year balance | -£1,000 |
| per pupil | -£3 |
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.
| Name | Distance |
|
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Spenbrook Road, Newchurch-in-Pendle, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 9JP |
1.18 miles |
|
Pendle Primary Academy
Walter Street, Brierfield, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 5AW |
1.39 miles |
|
Higham St John's Church of England Primary School
Higham Hall Road, Higham, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 9EU |
1.4 miles |
|
Woodfield Nursery School
Sefton Street, Nelson, BB9 5BE |
1.45 miles |
|
Lomeshaye Junior School
Norfolk Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7SY |
1.52 miles |
|
Roughlee Church of England Primary School
Blacko Bar Road, Roughlee, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 6NX |
1.56 miles |
|
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Halifax Road, Brierfield, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 5BL |
1.57 miles |
|
Whitefield Infant School and Nursery
Every Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7HF |
1.61 miles |
|
Al-Ikhlaas Primary School
35 Norfolk Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7SY |
1.61 miles |
|
St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Lomeshaye Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0DQ |
1.62 miles |
|
Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School
Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 6QT |
1.68 miles |
|
Reedley Primary School
Reedley Road, Reedley, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2NE |
1.72 miles |
|
Nelson St Paul's Church of England Primary School
Hibson Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0PY |
1.77 miles |
|
Marsden Community Primary School
Percy Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0BE |
1.8 miles |
|
McMillan Nursery School
Railway Street, Nelson, BB9 9AG |
1.92 miles |
|
Casterton Primary Academy
Casterton Primary Academy, Thames Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2PZ |
1.96 miles |
|
Bradley Nursery School
Bradley Road East, Nelson, BB9 7QH |
1.97 miles |
|
Nelson St Philip's Church of England Primary School
Leeds Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 9TQ |
1.99 miles |
|
Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Primary School, Nelson
Holland Place, Off Reedyford Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 8HD |
2.02 miles |
|
St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Thames Avenue, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2PZ |
2.03 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
Marsden Heights Community College
Edge End Lane, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0PR |
1.55 miles |
|
East Lancashire Learning Group
Scotland Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 7YT |
1.67 miles |
|
Grow Independent School
Lower Clough Business Centre, Pendle Street, Barrowford, Lancashire, BB9 8PH |
1.71 miles |
|
Edenfield Girls' High School
Brunswick Street, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 0PQ |
1.95 miles |
|
Pendle Vale College
Oxford Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 8LF |
2.62 miles |
|
Silver Birch School
Briercliffe Road, Harle Syke, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2HA |
2.64 miles |
|
Ridgewood Community High School
Eastern Avenue, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2AT |
2.66 miles |
|
Pendle Community High School & College
Oxford Road, Nelson, Lancashire, BB9 8LF |
2.7 miles |
|
Burnley College
Princess Way, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 0AN |
2.71 miles |
|
Sir John Thursby Community College
Eastern Avenue, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 2AT |
2.72 miles |
|
Holdsworth School
Park Hill, Padiham Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 6TG |
2.74 miles |
|
Olive High Boys
Ormerod Road (Entrance Via Shorey Bank), Burnley, Lancashire, BB11 2RU |
2.93 miles |
|
Lincoln House School
25-27 Clifton Street, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 0QZ |
2.94 miles |
|
Compass Community School Lancashire
Bend Hill Farm, Granville Street, Briercliffe, Burnley, BB10 2RA |
2.94 miles |
|
Ss John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School
Gibfield Road, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 8JT |
2.97 miles |
|
Olive High
Shorey Bank, Burnley, BB11 2RY |
2.99 miles |
|
Burnley High School
Byron Street, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 6NX |
3.05 miles |
|
Colne Primet Academy
Dent Street, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 8JF |
3.05 miles |
|
Shuttleworth College
Burnley Road, Padiham, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 8ST |
3.05 miles |
|
Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy
Ormerod Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 3AA |
3.07 miles |
All schools in Burnley · Lancashire local authority: places and applications
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is part of Epworth Education Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:
- Summerseat Methodist Primary School Bury
- Wesley Methodist Primary School Manchester
- Leyland Methodist Junior School Leyland
- Leyland Methodist Infant School Leyland
- Hey-with-Zion Primary School Oldham
- Rosehill Methodist Primary Academy Ashton-Under-Lyne
- Leigh Westleigh Methodist Primary School Leigh
- Bedford Hall Methodist Primary School Leigh
- Nutgrove Methodist Primary School St Helens
- Bakewell Methodist Academy Bakewell
What is Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School's Ofsted rating?
The latest Ofsted rating for Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is Good, from an inspection in March 2023 of its predecessor, Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School.
When was Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.
How many pupils does Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School have?
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School has 207 pupils on roll.
What age range does Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School cover?
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School for pupils aged 4 to 11.
What are Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?
In 2025, 72% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Where is Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School?
Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School is at Fence, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 9ED.