Burnley Brunshaw Primary School, Burnley

Ofsted's report card from its 9 September 2026 inspection grades Burnley Brunshaw Primary School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard, 4 expected standard and 2 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff are alert to spotting any potential vulnerabilities that might affect pupils' wellbeing."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the quality of education at the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders use their expert understanding of how young children develop and learn to inform the school's decisions about its provision in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "At the heart of the school's success is leaders' expertise and their deep commitment to understanding and meeting the needs of vulnerable pupils."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors have a clear vision for the school, such as through the recently established special educational needs unit, ‘The Meadows'."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, published information about pupils' attainment in reading and mathematics has been below average."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Pupils' attendance is below average."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that recent improvements in teaching and leaders' actions to support staff's teaching expertise continue and result in higher attainment for all pupils"; "Leaders should further sharpen the objectives and focus of the expenditure of pupil premium funding so it has the maximum impact on disadvantaged pupils' progress through the school curriculum"; "Leaders should make sure that the school's strengthened actions on improving attendance lead to pupils gaining full benefit from the education that the school provides"; "Leaders should further enhance the expertise of governors to understand the impact of the school's work to challenge leaders even more effectively".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Here at Brunshaw Primary School we are proud to be a community school, working hard to serve our local community. We aim to provide a personalised and meaningful education for all our pupils in a safe, caring and healthy environment."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, dance, drama, choir, guitar and maths club.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am.

In 2025, 54% of Year 6 pupils at Burnley Brunshaw Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 25% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 62% in reading and 45% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 41 families put Burnley Brunshaw Primary School as their first choice and 102 named it as one of their preferences, for 45 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Burnley Brunshaw Primary School are Burnley St Stephen's Church of England Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 63% reading, 43% maths); Burnley Springfield Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 57% reading, 63% maths); St Mary's RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.6 miles, 57% reading, 57% maths); and Burnley St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 73% reading, 70% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Burnley Brunshaw Primary School.

36 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Burnley Brunshaw Primary School (as of September 2026): 64% would recommend the school, 72% say their child is happy there and 33% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (78%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (33%).

42.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

Burnley Brunshaw Primary School has a SEN unit for speech, language and communication needs: 20 places, 16 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Burnley Manchester Road Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Roughlee Grove (opposite), 310 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 343 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Burnley Brunshaw Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 1.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Burnley Brunshaw Primary School are Unity College (0.1 miles); Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (0.8 miles); and Sir John Thursby Community College (1.3 miles).