Higham St John's Church of England Primary School, Burnley

Ofsted's report card from its 27 January 2026 inspection grades Higham St John's Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 1 expected standard, 3 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.

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented a well‑considered personal development programme."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Published data paints a picture of pupils' positive achievement by the end of key stage 2."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Children in the early years and pupils in key stage 1 are not supported well enough to become independent, inquisitive and curious learners."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "The school's expectations for some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are not high enough."

Curriculum and teaching - Urgent improvement. "Leaders' and staff's expectations of what pupils can learn and achieve across the primary curriculum are too low."

Early years - Urgent improvement. "The school's curriculum for children in the early years does not meet the full requirements of the early years foundation stage."

Leadership and governance - Urgent improvement. "Leaders and governors hold an overly generous view of the school."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Governors must gain the skills, knowledge and expertise that they need to hold leaders to account effectively. They should ensure they have an accurate view of the school's strengths and weaknesses so they can check that leaders focus on appropriate improvement priorities"; "Governors must support leaders with their workload and wellbeing so that leaders can prioritise school improvement work"; "Leaders must ensure that the curriculum across all subjects is ambitious, well sequenced and meets the needs of all pupils, especially those in mixed-age classes and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders must ensure that teachers have the knowledge and expertise to deliver the curriculum well so that it enables pupils to achieve well"; "Leaders must make sure that staff know how to adapt their teaching to meet the needs of different groups of pupils"; "Leaders must ensure that the school's assessment systems help staff identify misconceptions and resolve learning gaps, so that pupils develop detailed knowledge across the curriculum"; "Leaders must ensure that the early years curriculum meets the requirements of the early years foundation stage. Leaders must check that staff have the knowledge necessary to design purposeful and engaging learning that prepares children well for key stage 1"; "Leaders and governors must ensure that gaps in pupils' early reading and writing skills, including pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities, are addressed swiftly so that all pupils can access the full curriculum".

In its own words: "We are a popular, rural Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) School with extensive grounds and superb open views of Pendle and the surrounding countryside. We welcome not only from the village, but also from the neighbouring towns of Padiham, Nelson and Barrowford & Burnley."

In 2025, 76% of Year 6 pupils at Higham St John's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 88% in reading and 82% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 14 families put Higham St John's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 44 named it as one of their preferences, for 16 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 Higham St John's Church of England Primary School are Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School (1.4 miles, 86% reading, 90% maths); Padiham St Leonard's Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School (1.9 miles, Requires improvement, 69% reading, 75% maths); Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); and Padiham Primary School (2 miles, Good, 59% reading, 68% maths).

Higham St John's Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

31 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Higham St John's Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 71% would recommend the school, 84% say their child is happy there and 57% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (84%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (57%).

The nearest railway station is Brierfield Rail Station, about 2.1 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Johns CEPS (opposite), 30 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).

In 2024/25, Higham St John's Church of England Primary School issued 7 suspensions, 5.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.