Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School, Preston
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Preston. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 22nd-highest of the 106 schools in Preston with published results, and 2,822nd of 14,452 across England. It was 94% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School in detail
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "A small village church school with a big heart, where as a family we learn and grow together through both the indoor and outdoor curriculum, set on the foundations of a Christian ethos and our Christian vision. At John Cross CE Primary School our Christian Vision and values are at the heart of our caring and loving school family environment."
Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 91% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 83% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 7 families put Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 18 named it as one of their preferences, for 12 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School are Barton St Lawrence Church of England Primary School (1.7 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 88% maths); St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Claughton-on-Brock (1.7 miles, Outstanding, 86% reading, 86% maths); St Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School, Barton Newsham (2.3 miles); and Kirkland and Catterall St Helen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (2.5 miles, Good, 80% reading, 90% maths).
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.
Barton St Lawrence Church of England Primary SchoolSt Mary's Catholic Primary School, Claughton-on-BrockSt Mary and St Andrew's Catholic Primary School, Barton NewshamKirkland and Catterall St Helen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School
Who goes there
4.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (89%) and Black (6%).
In 2026, 5 pupils (6%) received SEN support and 2 (2.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is autism.
Staffing
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
There is no railway, tram or Underground station within about three miles of Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sycamore Road (opposite), 120 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 4 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, other theft and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Suspensions and exclusions
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2013, 12 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its November 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
19.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 83% to 91% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 75% to 91% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
23.5
Avg class size
2
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School
Term dates
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lancashire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 8
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 3
- Children hurt
- 0
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight.
No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt.
3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School
Will you get a place at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School.
- We hold no last distance offered figures from Lancashire, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lancashire got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
94%
Near capacity
79 pupils
84 places
5 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Preston
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Preston
Across Lancashire council
Places available
15,442
Applications
12,122
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
5
SEN Support
2
EHC Plans
8.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
84
Total Pupils
41
Boys
43
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
5
Teachers
16.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,774
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,465
Per pupil
£591k
Total funding
£23k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
12.2%
Persistent absence
74
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 91% did so in maths.
What is Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 94% of its 84 places.
How big are the classes at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School average 23.5 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School has around 84 pupils on roll. 19% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 12.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 8 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 5 slight. No children aged 0 to 15 were among the people hurt. 3 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School?
Bilsborrow John Cross Church of England Primary School is at Garstang Road, Bilsborrow, Preston, Lancashire, PR3 0RE.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)