St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

  • Primary
  • Academy
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Thames Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2PZOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a primary school in Burnley for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 14th of 33 primary schools in Burnley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in March 2014.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 18 March 2014, report published 8 April 2014

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 9 May 2024

Pupils are welcomed each day into a caring and supportive community at this school. They feel happy and they appreciate the opportunities that the school creates for them. If they have any worries or concerns, they know how to access help and support. They trust the adults who work with them. This helps them to feel safe and ensures that they can focus on their learning. Pupils understand the clear expectations that the school sets for their achievement. In lessons, pupils access a broad and engaging curriculum. They work hard and achieve well. Pupils treat each other with kindness. They are taught to respect the differences that exist between people in society. This creates a positive school atmosphere where pupils can learn in calm classroom environments. All pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), benefit from a wealth of opportunities to develop themselves beyond the academic curriculum. For example, they take part in regular well-being events with their families, attend film festivals and take part in debates. They enjoy clubs and activities such as archery and gardening. These enrichment experiences help them to develop their confidence and understanding of the local community and the wider world.

What the school should improve

  • In a few subjects, some teachers do not choose activities that will best support pupils to learn the intended curriculum well. This means that some pupils do not secure or deepen their knowledge in each topic. The school should check that teachers design learning tasks that enable pupils to build their knowledge in depth over time.
  • In some subjects, the strategies that the school has devised to check on pupils' learning are underdeveloped. This hinders how well teachers are able to identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge. Some pupils are not supported to build on their prior learning as well as they could be. The school should refine these assessment strategies so that teachers can help pupils to build their subject-specific knowledge more securely.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

29 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths59%

59%, 3 percentage points below the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths7%

7%, 1 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score105

105, 1 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score104

104, 1 below the England average of 105.

Grammar, punctuation and spelling, average scaled score103

103, 2 below the England average of 105.

Pupil numbers and mix

212 pupils on roll, with places for 270

Eligible for free school meals33%

33%, 6.5 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language27.4%

27.4%, 5.8 percentage points above the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support10.8%

10.8%, 4 percentage points below the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.7%

4.7%, 1.3 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Casterton Primary Academy0.1 milesOfsted: Good72% met the expected standard
St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School0.4 milesReport card: Expected standard50% met the expected standard
Reedley Primary School0.5 milesOfsted: Good61% met the expected standard
Barden Primary School0.6 milesOfsted: Good60% met the expected standard
Pendle Primary Academy0.7 milesReport card: Expected standard64% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Academy converter
Sector
Academy
Trust
ROMERO CATHOLIC ACADEMY TRUST
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
Roman Catholic
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Helen Bibby
Address
Thames Avenue, Burnley, BB10 2PZ
Local authority
Lancashire
URN
147578

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.