Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School, Chorley

Ofsted's report card from its 23 June 2026 inspection grades Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School on 7 areas: 2 strong standard and 5 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils love attending school."

Early years - Strong standard. "Children thrive under the expert guidance of staff in the early years provision."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Over time, pupils' attainment in tests at the end of key stage 2 has been at least in line with national averages, and often higher."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have designed an ambitious curriculum."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "A deep sense of belonging permeates the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Pupils' best interests are at the heart of leaders' vision to provide a high-quality education for all."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have carefully designed a programme of personal development that helps pupils to learn how to stay safe in their local area, as well as broadening their understanding of the world beyond."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should continue to ensure that staff have clarity about what pupils of different ages should know and remember in every subject, so that they can use this information to design learning activities that take full account of pupils' starting points. This is to enable pupils to embed and deepen their knowledge in each subject".

In its own words: "Ephesians 3:17: and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. At Brindle St James' we are a family who are grounded and grow with the love of God."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Brindle St James' is a small, village primary school with a friendly, family atmosphere and strong Christian ethos. It is located in the village of Brindle, surrounded by beautiful Lancashire countryside! We work hard to make our school a safe and caring, child-centred place of human flourishing, where everyone can reach their full potential."

In 2025, 92% of Year 6 pupils at Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 90% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 12 families put Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School as their first choice and 33 named it as one of their preferences, for 10 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 2 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School are Withnell Fold Primary School (1 mile, Good, 58% reading, 50% maths); Clayton Brook Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 76% reading, 40% maths); Westwood Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 75% reading, 56% maths); and St Bede's Catholic Primary School (1.3 miles, Good, 85% reading, 77% maths).

Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 0% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (92%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 1 pupils (1.5%) received SEN support and 3 (4.5%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School had 5 teachers in 2026, one for every 14 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Bamber Bridge Rail Station, about 2.4 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cavendish Arms (by), 220 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, Brindle St James' Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School issued 1 suspension, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.