Balshaw Lane Community Primary School, Chorley
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
This school excels at helping children become confident, happy learners who feel genuinely cared for. Reading is prioritised from the start, and staff are well-trained to support all learners, including those with additional needs. Beyond academics, the school provides outstanding personal development through enrichment activities, visits and trips, helping pupils understand important values like respect, equality and community responsibility.
Key Strengths
- Strong emphasis on reading from Reception year with well-trained staff supporting those who need help
- Thoughtful curriculum design that helps pupils make connections between subjects and remember what they learn
- Exceptional personal, social and health education with extensive enrichment experiences
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, working closely with parents and outside agencies
- Pupils demonstrate strong understanding of British values including democracy, tolerance and equality
Areas for Improvement
- In some subjects, the important knowledge pupils need to learn and when it should be taught is not clearly identified, making it harder for teachers to ensure pupils acquire essential subject knowledge over time
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with clear procedures in place and an open, positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits, residential trips, visiting speakers, assemblies, clubs, music lessons, sports matches, performances in local community, breakfast club, worry boxes, weekly well-being drop-ins, playground activity zones including football and basketball
Balshaw Lane Community Primary School is a good school where pupils are proud to attend and feel well-cared for by staff. The school has high expectations of achievement and provides excellent personal development opportunities alongside a carefully planned curriculum.
At a Glance
9.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
75 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2025/26 academic year
Class Sizes
28.4
Avg class size
12
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Commute Calculator
Find out if this school is reachable from your home - before you apply
What are my chances?
Enter your postcode to estimate your probability of getting a place.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
382 pupils
420 capacity
38 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Chorley
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Chorley
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
15,664
Applications
12,136
Got 1st preference
93.0%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History
House Prices
Moving into the catchment? See what homes near this school actually cost
SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.26087%
Overall absence
6.89655%
Persistent absence
348
Enrolments
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
No reviews yet - be the first to leave one.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Balshaw Lane Community Primary School
Nearby Schools
Do you work at this school?
Claim your profile free to get a verified badge, update your contact details, and see how many parents are viewing your page.