Frenchwood Community Primary School, Preston

Ofsted's report card from its 10 February 2026 inspection grades Frenchwood Community Primary School on 7 areas: 3 expected standard and 4 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have effective systems in place to improve attendance."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that inclusion is a priority throughout the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils develop their character and personal qualities because the school provides many opportunities to help them to reflect on their beliefs, experiences and the choices that they make."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Pupils' achievement is uneven."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Teaching is not consistently effective across the school."

Early years - Needs attention. "Some aspects of the early years provision mean that children are not as securely prepared for Year 1 as they should be."

Leadership and governance - Needs attention. "Leaders know the school's strengths and have identified the right priorities for improvement, but their actions have not brought about change quickly enough."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders, including governors, should ensure that the school's improvement priorities are acted upon with greater urgency so that improvements in teaching lead to more rapid gains in pupils' learning"; "Leaders should improve the expertise of early years staff in teaching early English and mathematics so that children gain the secure early foundations that they need to be well prepared for Year 1"; "Leaders should strengthen staff's expertise in teaching the essential skills of handwriting, spelling and mathematics so that pupils benefit from consistently effective teaching across the school"; "Leaders should develop the ways in which staff check pupils' learning to ensure that gaps and misconceptions in pupils' basic skills are identified and addressed quickly, helping pupils build secure foundations for their future learning"; "Leaders should continue their work to improve attendance so that pupils, especially those who are disadvantaged, attend school regularly and do not miss out on important learning".

In its own words: "2027 marks 100 years of education on our school site. Our school community has a shared vision of what a learner at Frenchwood Community Primary School should expect from us. All members of The Frenchwood Family, whatever their role, are expected to work respectfully and collaboratively in the best interest of our learners."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Below is a short video sharing some of the things that make our school such a special place to learn. Our motto, The Frenchwood Family - Together We Grow, expresses the strength of our community and our determination to offer the best opportunities for our children to achieve success."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care, from £4.00 per session.

In 2025, 61% of Year 6 pupils at Frenchwood Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 57% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 75% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Frenchwood Community Primary School as their first choice and 53 named it as one of their preferences, for 25 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 Frenchwood Community Primary School are St Augustine's Catholic Primary School, Preston (0.2 miles, 85% reading, 80% maths); St Ignatius' Catholic Primary School, Preston (0.8 miles); Walton-le-Dale, St Leonard's Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 85% reading, 64% maths); and St Stephen's CofE School (0.9 miles, Good, 75% reading, 73% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Frenchwood Community Primary School.

31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Frenchwood Community Primary School (as of April 2026): 77% would recommend the school, 77% say their child is happy there and 20% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (90%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (20%).

61.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (67%), Black (9%) and White British (8%).

In 2026, 43 pupils (13.2%) received SEN support and 7 (2.1%) 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.

The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 1140 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tiber Street (opposite), 140 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 731 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Frenchwood Community Primary School issued 13 suspensions, 3.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Frenchwood Community Primary School are Christ The King Catholic High School (0.2 miles); Eden Boys' School, Preston (0.5 miles); Preston Muslim Girls High School (0.9 miles); and Lostock Hall Academy (1.7 miles).