Whittlefield Primary School

  • Primary
  • Local authority maintained
  • Ages 4 to 11
Ofsted: Good

Tabor Street, Burnley, BB12 0HLOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Whittlefield Primary School is a primary school in Burnley for ages 4 to 11. It is one of the 692 schools in Lancashire. It ranks 24th of 33 primary schools in Burnley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2017.

Ofsted inspection

Inspected 7 February 2017, report published 6 March 2017

Overall effectiveness
Good
Leadership and management
Good
Early years provision
Good
Safeguarding
Met

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 13 December 2022

Pupils, and children in the early years, enjoy school. They are excited to come to school each morning, and they are welcomed warmly by staff. Pupils feel a strong sense of belonging to their school community. Pupils explained that staff care for them well. This helps children and pupils to feel happy and safe. Pupils said that staff take bullying seriously. They are confident that staff deal with bullying swiftly and effectively on the rare occasions that it happens. Leaders are ambitious for what all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), can and should achieve. Overall, pupils learn well. Children in the early years are well prepared for the demands of Year 1. Leaders have high expectations of pupils' behaviour. Pupils rise to these expectations and are well behaved in class and during social times. They are kind to adults and to each other. Pupils appreciate the rewards that they receive when they display positive behaviours. For example, pupils are proud to see their names on the shout out boards in classrooms. Pupils in Year 6 take their responsibility for looking after younger children and pupils seriously. For example, they support children and pupils at breaktimes and lunchtimes in their role as play leaders. Pupils spoke positively about extra-curricular clubs that they have access to. They particularly enjoy tag rugby and gardening club.

What the school should improve

  • In a very small number of subjects, leaders are still refining their curriculum design. As a result, some children and pupils do not learn these subject curriculums as well as they should. Leaders should ensure that all curriculums are complete and logically ordered, and that they set out the knowledge that children and pupils should know and remember.
  • Some children and pupils do not attend school as regularly as they should. This means that they miss out on important knowledge, which hinders how well they learn. Leaders should ensure that they continue to support these children and pupils to improve their rates of attendance.

Exam results

SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25

30 pupils took the tests

Expected standard in reading, writing and maths67%

67%, 5 percentage points above the England average of 62%.

Higher standard in reading, writing and maths0%

0%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 8%.

Reading, average scaled score102

102, 4 below the England average of 106.

Maths, average scaled score103

103, 2 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

188 pupils on roll, with places for 210

Eligible for free school meals38.3%

38.3%, 11.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language6.9%

6.9%, 14.7 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support27.7%

27.7%, 12.9 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan4.8%

4.8%, 1.2 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Whittlefield Primary School

SchoolDistanceOfstedResults
Burnley Ightenhill Primary School0.2 milesOfsted: Good46% met the expected standard
Wellfield Methodist and Anglican Church School0.4 milesOfsted: Good70% met the expected standard
St Mary Magdalene Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy0.4 milesOfsted: Good69% met the expected standard
St Augustine of Canterbury RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy0.6 milesOfsted: Good53% met the expected standard
Burnley Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School0.7 milesOfsted: Good45% met the expected standard

School details

School type
Community school
Sector
Local authority maintained
Age range
4 to 11
Gender
Mixed
Nursery classes
No
Headteacher
Mrs Jane Thistlethwaite
Address
Tabor Street, Burnley, BB12 0HL
Local authority
Lancashire
URN
119262

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.