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Primary school

Bacup Thorn Primary School

  • Community School
  • ages 4–11
  • Mixed
  • Lancashire
  • OL13 8EF
Ofsted Good · inspected Nov 2023

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 8,801 of 15,057 primaries in England · top 59%

Top % in England, by year
2015/16: top 43%43%2016/17: top 56%2017/18: top 28%28% · 2017/182018/19: top 44%2022/23: top 53%2023/24: top 73%2024/25: top 59%No exams

Against North WestArrows: North West rank change since 2018/19

Expected standard, RWM61% · North West 63%5/10 Middle−12.8 pts
Higher standard, RWM7% · North West 6%6/10 Middle−29.8 pts
Reading score106 · North West 1056/10 Middle+11 pts
Maths score105 · North West 1055/10 Middle−24 pts
Show KS2 results by year

No exams 2019/20–21Not published 2021/22

Expected standard, RWM
2015/16: 58% · 36 pupils · North West 55%2016/17: 61% · 38 pupils · North West 64%2017/18: 76% · 34 pupils · North West 68%2018/19: 69% · 36 pupils · North West 67%2022/23: 60% · 45 pupils · North West 61%2023/24: 53% · 32 pupils · North West 63%2024/25: 61% · 46 pupils · North West 63%76%53%No exams
Higher standard, RWM
2015/16: 3% · 36 pupils · North West 3%2016/17: 8% · 38 pupils · North West 7%2017/18: 6% · 34 pupils · North West 8%2018/19: 17% · 36 pupils · North West 9%2022/23: 11% · 45 pupils · North West 6%2023/24: 3% · 32 pupils · North West 5%2024/25: 7% · 46 pupils · North West 6%17%3%No exams
Reading score
2015/16: 102 · 36 pupils · North West 1022016/17: 101 · 38 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 104 · 34 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 104 · 36 pupils · North West 1042022/23: 104 · 45 pupils · North West 1052023/24: 103 · 32 pupils · North West 1052024/25: 106 · 46 pupils · North West 105106101No exams
Maths score
2015/16: 103 · 36 pupils · North West 1032016/17: 106 · 38 pupils · North West 1042017/18: 107 · 34 pupils · North West 1052018/19: 107 · 36 pupils · North West 1052022/23: 103 · 45 pupils · North West 1042023/24: 103 · 32 pupils · North West 1042024/25: 105 · 46 pupils · North West 105107103No exams

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
23 of 23 who put it first2014 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st2323
2nd120
3rd150

Last distance offered: London only

0.6 km from Bacup · approx.: from the area's centre, not your door

Inspections · 2008–2023

  1. 2008Outstanding
  2. 2023Good

5 strong areas

  • Personal development
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Early years provision
  • Effectiveness of leadership and management

0 weak areas

5 areas graded · safeguarding effective

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026253
Free school meals (past 6 years)40.5%
First language not English2.6%
SEN support9.8%
EHC plan5.5%
Absence (sessions missed)4.5%
Persistently absent pupils8.0%

Girls 53.6%Boys 46.4%

91.7% full · 276 places

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 22 responses (8% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school95.5% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school100% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved100% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 90.9% not applicable100.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year95.4% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 31.8% not applicable93.3% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed0% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child95.5% agree
  • My child does well at this school100% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing95.5% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school100% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school100% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development95.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent95.5% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher19.6
Pupils per adult10.3
  • Classroom teachers 10.9
  • Leadership 2
  • Teaching assistants 11.5
  • Other support 5.9

Teachers 12.9 FTE · Whole workforce 30.3 · 40 people

Financials · 2025/26

Income per pupil£8,202
Spend per pupil£8,195
Staff spend per pupil£5,781
Reserve per pupil£712
  • +£180,073revenue reserve
  • +£1,677in-year balance

Grants £7,878 · self-generated £324 · premises £432 per pupil