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Brookfield Park Primary School, Skelmersdale

Primary
Community school
Mixed
Ages 2–11

Brookfield Park Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 2 to 11 in Skelmersdale. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, ended in a report card: 2 expected standard, 2 needs attention and 3 urgent improvement. Before that it was rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in September 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 7th-highest of the 18 schools in Skelmersdale with published results, and 4,096th of 14,452 across England. It was 65% full in 2025.

SATs results
Above England average
Ofsted report card
5 areas need attention
Demand
Every first choice offered
Attendance
Below England average
New inspections, open days and news, by email.

Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days

Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.

Data last updated 27 Oct 2026

Brookfield Park Primary School in detail

What Ofsted's report card says

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Brookfield Park Primary School on 7 areas: 2 expected standard, 2 needs attention and 3 urgent improvement. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a well-thought-out curriculum in the early years."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have provided training to staff, which helps them support pupils' wellbeing."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Leaders have not acted swiftly enough to ensure that pupils attend school as often as they should."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders do not have high enough expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) or disadvantaged pupils."

Achievement - Urgent improvement. "The published data for national tests and assessments indicates that Year 6 pupils attain as well as other pupils nationally in reading, writing and mathematics."

Curriculum and teaching - Urgent improvement. "Leaders do not have enough oversight of the curriculum or the way in which it is taught."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Leaders have not prioritised the right issues or taken timely action to improve teaching and pupils' achievement across the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Those responsible for governance must ensure that there is sufficient capacity within leadership so that the weaknesses in provision are resolved effectively and swiftly"; "Leaders should ensure that they check the impact of their work to improve the school, including their oversight of curriculum delivery and the impact of the additional support that some pupils who face barriers to learning receive"; "Leaders and governors must urgently review the curriculum that pupils currently receive. They must ensure that pupils receive the minimum 32.5 hours of education each week, as directed by the Department for Education. They must ensure that teachers deliver the curriculum as intended so that pupils have their entitlement to a broad and balanced education that enables them to achieve well"; "Those with responsibility for governance must carry out their statutory duties and have oversight over the way leaders fulfil their role, including the use of part-time timetables for some pupils"; "Leaders must ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of all pupils. Staff should use the information that they hold to adapt their teaching so that pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing succeed and thrive"; "Leaders must ensure that teachers build on children's success in the early years, so that all pupils secure the basic skills of handwriting, number and early reading to be successful"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers are equipped to identify and then address misconceptions and errors in pupils' work"; "Leaders should strengthen the procedures to monitor pupils' absence from school and use this information to help pupils and their families to attend school more regularly".

Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)

Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted

Brookfield Park Primary School in its own words

From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to wish you a warm welcome to our fantastic school. We are a school that is firmly rooted in our community, as such we feel that we know our families and children so well that the education we provide them is very much tailored to suit their needs and allows them to flourish."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)

Source: The school's own website

Results

In 2025, 81% of Year 6 pupils at Brookfield Park Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 86% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

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

Getting a place at Brookfield Park Primary School

For September 2026 entry, 17 families put Brookfield Park Primary School as their first choice and 45 named it as one of their preferences, for 20 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 Brookfield Park Primary School

Compared with nearby schools

The nearest other state primary schools to Brookfield Park Primary School are St Richard's Catholic Primary School, Skelmersdale (0.3 miles, Outstanding, 64% reading, 75% maths); Trinity Church of England/Methodist School (0.4 miles, Good, 59% reading, 59% maths); Crow Orchard Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and St Edmund's Catholic Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 50% reading, 63% maths).

Brookfield Park Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

St Richard's Catholic Primary School, SkelmersdaleTrinity Church of England/Methodist SchoolCrow Orchard Primary SchoolSt Edmund's Catholic Primary School

Who goes there

38.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 45 pupils (29.4%) received SEN support and 7 (4.6%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.

Getting there

The nearest railway station is Rainford Rail Station, about 2.5 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sherrat Street (by), 100 metres away.

Suspensions and exclusions

In 2024/25, Brookfield Park Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 6.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

Secondary schools nearby

The secondary schools closest to Brookfield Park Primary School are Lathom High School : A Technology College (0.8 miles), Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High School (0.8 miles) and Maharishi Free School (1.5 miles).

Lathom High School : A Technology CollegeOur Lady Queen of Peace Catholic High SchoolMaharishi Free School

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; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics

Location

Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mrs Sarah-Jane Whiteside
Pupils:153
LA:Lancashire
Phone:01695724042
Address:School Lane, Chapel House, Skelmersdale, WN8 8EH
Status:open
Opened:1 September 2004

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 5 months ago

Report card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)

Safeguarding standards met

  • Early yearsExpected standard
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
  • Attendance and behaviourNeeds attention
  • InclusionNeeds attention
  • AchievementUrgent improvement
  • Curriculum and teachingUrgent improvement
  • Leadership and governanceUrgent improvement

Safeguarding standards: met

Inspected 6 May 2026View full report
URN:134603
UKPRN:10071760
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:West Lancashire
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted's report card, in its own words

What it's like to be a pupil at Brookfield Park Primary School

Although pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics is typically in line with the national average by the end of Year 6, they do not achieve as well as they should across the whole curriculum. They do not learn everything they should know. The curriculum in many subjects is not taught well or not taught at all. This is because time is wasted and pupils do not spend enough time in school each week. Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who are disadvantaged, are not well prepared for the next stage in their education. Pupils' barriers to learning are identified but are not met well enough. Pupils have large gaps in their knowledge. They do not remember important facts. Pupils are not helped to write legibly or to spell accurately. Pupils do not know their multiplication tables as well as they should. Reading books are often too hard for those who are starting to learn to read. Pupils with SEND and those who are disadvantaged do not attend school as regularly as they should. Pupils like school and they feel safe. They make good friends and play well together in the adventure or school playgrounds. Staff help them when they are sad or anxious. Leaders deal with any bullying quickly, and this helps pupils to enjoy learning and social times. Some pupils have been trained as peer mentors. They look after others who might be upset or want to play a new game. Pupils are keen to take responsibility as leaders. They show care for one another and are extremely polite to visitors. Pupils want to learn and have positive attitudes to learning. They follow the school rules and generally behave well. They show tolerance for others and develop a secure understanding of what it means to be different.

What Ofsted says the school should do next

  • Those responsible for governance must ensure that there is sufficient capacity within leadership so that the weaknesses in provision are resolved effectively and swiftly.
  • Leaders should ensure that they check the impact of their work to improve the school, including their oversight of curriculum delivery and the impact of the additional support that some pupils who face barriers to learning receive.
  • Leaders and governors must urgently review the curriculum that pupils currently receive. They must ensure that pupils receive the minimum 32.5 hours of education each week, as directed by the Department for Education. They must ensure that teachers deliver the curriculum as intended so that pupils have their entitlement to a broad and balanced education that enables them to achieve well.
  • Those with responsibility for governance must carry out their statutory duties and have oversight over the way leaders fulfil their role, including the use of part-time timetables for some pupils.
  • Leaders must ensure that staff have consistently high expectations of all pupils. Staff should use the information that they hold to adapt their teaching so that pupils who face barriers to learning and/or wellbeing succeed and thrive.
  • Leaders must ensure that teachers build on children's success in the early years, so that all pupils secure the basic skills of handwriting, number and early reading to be successful.
  • Leaders should ensure that teachers are equipped to identify and then address misconceptions and errors in pupils' work.
  • Leaders should strengthen the procedures to monitor pupils' absence from school and use this information to help pupils and their families to attend school more regularly.

From Ofsted's report card (inspection 6 May 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Ofsted Insights

From Ofsted's May 2026 inspection report.

What This School Does Well

The school provides strong support for children's wellbeing and has established a caring environment where pupils behave well and feel safe. Early years provision is particularly strong, with well-planned activities that develop communication and early reading skills effectively. The resourced provision for pupils with multiple SEND offers expert support and helps these pupils progress well.

Key Strengths

  • Early years curriculum is well-planned with strong phonics teaching and good progress in communication skills
  • Safeguarding standards are met with an open culture where pupils feel safe
  • Behaviour is good in classrooms and around school, with effective use of calm areas to support emotional regulation
  • Strong pastoral support for pupil wellbeing with trained staff
  • Resourced provision for pupils with SEND provides a safe environment with well-considered curriculum

Areas for Improvement

  • Curriculum is narrowed with some subjects receiving little or no teaching time, leaving pupils unprepared for secondary school
  • Teaching quality is inconsistent - teachers have low expectations and do not check learning effectively or address misconceptions
  • Pupils do not master basic skills in phonics, reading, spelling, handwriting and times tables early enough
  • School day is shorter than recommended, reducing learning time
  • Attendance rates, especially for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, are consistently below national average
  • Leaders lack oversight and urgency in addressing these issues

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - leaders and governors have created an open culture of safeguarding where concerns are actively identified and managed, making pupils safer and helping them feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

After-school clubs including sports, drama, art and homework support, orchestra visits to concert halls, zoo visits to learn about endangered animals, university career workshops

Brookfield Park Primary School requires special measures as it is failing to provide an acceptable standard of education. While safeguarding standards are met and early years provision is strong, the school has significant weaknesses in curriculum delivery, teaching quality, and pupil achievement across most subjects.

At a Glance

38.6%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

Yes

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2024/25

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading+3ppMaths+19ppWriting-13pp

Reading has remained stable at around 81% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 67% to 86% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 89% to 76% (2024 to 2025).

Class Sizes

18.7

Avg class size

16.7

Infant (KS1)

20.3

KS2

7

Total classes

2025/26 academic year

How Does This School Compare?

Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools

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Keep up with Brookfield Park Primary School

Before and after school care

Brookfield Park Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Lancashire

Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near Brookfield Park Primary School.

  • Include Me 2 West LancashireAt the school · Not yet graded

Term dates

Brookfield Park Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lancashire. Training (INSET) days, when pupils are not in school, vary by school: check the school's own calendar.

2026 to 2027

  • Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026)
  • Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027)
  • Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027)

2027 to 2028

  • Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027)
  • Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028)
  • Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028)

Source: Lancashire term dates

Getting There

Bus Stops

Sherrat Street (by)
97m · 2 min walk
Turnberry (opp)
117m · 2 min walk
Kiln Lane (by)
252m · 4 min walk
School Lane (opp)
301m · 5 min walk
Old Skelmersdale War Memorial (by)
341m · 6 min walk

Free school transport

Check free transport to Brookfield Park Primary School from your postcode →

You apply to the council where you live. Brookfield Park Primary School is in Lancashire; for families living there:

Safety and surroundings

Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)

Collisions
10
Fatal
0
Serious
3
Children hurt
2

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight.

2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.

4 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.

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Commute and house prices

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Your chances of a place at Brookfield Park Primary School

Will you get a place at Brookfield Park Primary School? Get the admissions report

Your home postcode, set against Brookfield Park Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.

What the report includes for Brookfield Park Primary School:

  • The straight-line distance from your home to Brookfield Park 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 Brookfield Park 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

65%

Available places

136 pupils

210 places

74 spare places in 2025

2025, DfE school capacity data

Area Demand Pressure - Skelmersdale

Low pressure
New homes approved:979
Projected new pupils:245

Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Skelmersdale

Across Lancashire council

Low demand council-wide0.79 applications per place

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(7)

6 May 2026Report card
Inclusion
Curriculum & teaching
Achievement
Attendance & behaviour
Personal development
Early years
Leadership & governance
13 September 2023
Requires ImprovementReport
Quality of EducationRequires Improvement
Behaviour & AttitudesGood
Personal DevelopmentGood
Leadership & ManagementRequires Improvement
Early YearsRequires Improvement
23 January 2018

SEND & SEN Provision

SEN Overview

45

SEN Support

7

EHC Plans

34.0%

of Total Pupils

2026 academic year

Provision & Specialist Facilities

No specialist provision recorded

Pupils by Need Type

Other33
Speech, Language & Communication12
Specific Learning Difficulty3
Social, Emotional & Mental Health3
EHC Plan
SEN Support

Pupil Demographics

Ethnicity

White British
81.7%
Asian
2.0%
Black
3.9%
Unclassified
2.0%

2026 academic year

Key Indicators

Free School Meals38.6%
English as Additional Language16.3%

153

Total Pupils

85

Boys

68

Girls

2026 academic year

Workforce

8

Teachers

19.1:1

Pupil-teacher ratio

£49,148

Mean salary

2026 data

School Funding

£6,554

Per pupil

£1018k

Total funding

£83k

Pupil premium

Deprivation£113,750
EAL funding£7,242
Lump sum£145,100

2025-26 financial year allocations

Pupil Absence
2024/25

8.2%

Overall absence

19.7%

Persistent absence

127

Enrolments

Authorised5.4%
Unauthorised2.8%
Persistent (10%+)19.7%
Severe (50%+)1.6%

Absence trend

4.1%
18/19
4.9%
20/21
6.8%
21/22
7.0%
22/23
7.4%
23/24
8.2%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

Questions parents ask about Brookfield Park Primary School

What are SATs results like at Brookfield Park Primary School?

Of the pupils at Brookfield Park Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 81% reached the expected standard in reading and 86% did so in maths.

What is Brookfield Park Primary School's Ofsted rating?

Brookfield Park Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2026, produced a report card, which grades each area but gives no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2023, it was rated Requires Improvement.

What is the catchment area for Brookfield Park Primary School?

No fixed boundary. When Brookfield Park 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 Brookfield Park Primary School?

Brookfield Park Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 65% of its 210 places.

How big are the classes at Brookfield Park Primary School?

Classes at Brookfield Park Primary School average 18.7 pupils (2025/26).

How many pupils go to Brookfield Park Primary School?

Brookfield Park Primary School has around 153 pupils on roll. 39% are eligible for free school meals.

What is attendance like at Brookfield Park Primary School?

8.2% of sessions were missed at Brookfield Park Primary School in 2024/25. 19.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).

How do I apply to Brookfield Park Primary School?

Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Brookfield Park 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.

Does Brookfield Park Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?

Brookfield Park Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Include Me 2 West Lancashire (registered, not yet graded).

What are Brookfield Park Primary School's term dates?

Brookfield Park Primary School is a community school, so its term dates are set by Lancashire. In 2026 to 2027: Autumn term: Tuesday 1 September to Friday 18 December 2026 (half term Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October 2026); Spring term: Monday 4 January to Thursday 25 March 2027 (half term Monday 15 February to Friday 19 February 2027); Summer term: Monday 12 April to Wednesday 21 July 2027 (half term Monday 31 May to Friday 4 June 2027). In 2027 to 2028: Autumn term: Wednesday 1 September to Friday 17 December 2027 (half term Monday 25 October to Friday 29 October 2027); Spring term: Tuesday 4 January to Friday 31 March 2028 (half term Monday 14 February to Friday 18 February 2028); Summer term: Tuesday 18 April to Friday 21 July 2028 (half term Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June 2028).

How many road collisions happen near Brookfield Park Primary School?

Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 3 serious and 7 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Brookfield Park Primary School?

Brookfield Park Primary School is at School Lane, Chapel House, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8EH.

Sources: Lancashire term dates; Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)

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