Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School
Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford, Nelson, BB9 6QTOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School is a primary school in Nelson for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 1st of 16 primary schools in Nelson. Its latest Ofsted rating is Outstanding, from an inspection in September 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 26 September 2023, report published 8 November 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Early years provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 26 September 2023
Pupils flourish at this exceptional school where differences between people are valued and nurtured. Pupils feel accepted, loved and respected. They thrive in this supportive environment. Pupils are happy. They feel cared for and safe. The school has exceptionally high expectations for all pupils across each area of the curriculum. A culture of excellence is evident. Pupils achieve highly. Children in the early years are well prepared for key stage 1, while pupils in Year 6 are more than ready for the challenges of the key stage 3 curriculum. Pupils' behaviour is exemplary. This is because they know what is expected of them. Pupils relish the array of rewards that they receive for following school rules and working hard. Pupils spoke enthusiastically about the vast range of trips and the many clubs on offer. These experiences enable pupils, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), to discover exciting new interests and undiscovered talents. Pupils excel in their various roles and responsibilities. These include head pupils, prefects and school councillors. Older pupils are proud to be 'special friends' to children in the early years. Pupils make a tangible contribution to school life through these roles. Pupils are involved in many projects in the local community, such as litter picking and designing speed awareness signs for the roads. This contributes strongly to pupils' personal development.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
16 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
121 pupils on roll, with places for 119
Schools near Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrowford School | 0.4 miles | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | 50% met the expected standard |
| Holy Saviour Roman Catholic Primary School, Nelson | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | 57% met the expected standard |
| Al-Ikhlaas Primary School | 0.8 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| Lomeshaye Junior School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 80% met the expected standard |
| Roughlee Church of England Primary School | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Good | 100% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 4 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Oliver Haines
- Phone
- 01282614462
- Address
- Wheatley Lane Road, Barrowford, Nelson, BB9 6QT
- Local authority
- Lancashire
- URN
- 119431
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.