Buckshaw 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
Buckshaw is a welcoming school where your child will be happy, well-behaved and properly supported. The school has excellent phonics teaching and encourages a genuine love of reading. Your child will develop as a well-rounded citizen through leadership opportunities, community fundraising, and learning the school's core values of kindness, courage, determination and responsibility.
Key Strengths
- Strong curriculum that builds knowledge logically from early years onwards, with effective teaching of phonics and a love of reading encouraged through '100 Book Challenges' and author visits
- Excellent behavior management - pupils behave sensibly in lessons and staff provide effective, supportive action when pupils struggle emotionally
- Well-designed personal development opportunities including leadership roles (reading ambassadors, school councillors) and fundraising events that prepare pupils for future lives
- Quick identification of pupils with SEND and effective partnership working with external agencies to support their achievement
- High staff morale with strong teamwork and supportive leadership that considers staff workload
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers do not have high enough expectations of what pupils can achieve, which hinders progress for some pupils
- New approaches to checking pupils' learning are not yet fully embedded across all subjects, limiting teachers' ability to address knowledge gaps in some areas
- 2024 phonics screening check results were significantly below average, though the school has since addressed curriculum weaknesses
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture and processes in place.
Extracurricular Activities
Baking, dance, art, reading ambassador roles, school council, fundraising events, breakfast club, after-school club
Buckshaw Primary School is a happy and welcoming school where pupils behave well and staff prioritize pupil well-being. The school has improved from its previous 'Requires improvement' rating and now provides good quality education across all key areas.
At a Glance
31.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
63 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 64%. Maths has remained stable at around 61%. Writing has declined from 58% to 46%.
Class Sizes
27.9
Avg class size
26.3
Infant (KS1)
29.0
KS2
7
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Over capacity
210 pupils
210 capacity
0 places over capacity
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(7)
House Prices
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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.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
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
5.13635%
Overall absence
14.13043%
Persistent absence
184
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Buckshaw Primary School
Oliver House School
St Michael's Church of England High School
Parklands High School
Chorley Astley Park School
Waterloo Lodge
Mayfield House School
Mayfield School
Shaftesbury High School
Southlands High School
Westmorland School
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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