Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Nelson

Ofsted's report card from its 14 July 2026 inspection grades Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy on 7 areas: 3 strong standard and 4 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Children in the early years have a successful start to their education."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders have created a culture where pupils' needs are identified quickly and understood well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have designed a highly effective personal development programme."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well across the curriculum."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the importance of regular attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have a secure understanding of the quality of the curriculum and how well it is taught."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders know the school well."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that highly effective teaching is embedded consistently throughout the school, so pupils can further deepen their knowledge of important content"; "Leaders should further embed their work around attendance to ensure all pupils attend school regularly and that the persistent absence of some groups of pupils is further reduced".

In its own words: "Our children make very good progress, are enthusiastically engaged in their learning and behave outstandingly."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is an honour and a privilege to be the Headteacher of Holy Trinity. This is a very happy, friendly school situated in spacious grounds on the edge of Brierfield with wonderful views of Pendle Hill. We are a thriving Catholic school, a member school of the Romero CAT."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, cricket, gymnastics, basketball and dance.

In 2025, 86% of Year 6 pupils at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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.

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

For September 2026 entry, 20 families put Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 73 named it as one of their preferences, for 15 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state primary schools to Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Pendle Primary Academy (0.3 miles, Good, 78% reading, 73% maths); Reedley Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 72% reading, 72% maths); Nelson St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 77% reading, 82% maths); and St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy (0.7 miles, 33% reading, 48% maths).

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is one of 18 schools run by Romero Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

In 2026, 13 pupils (10.3%) received SEN support and 9 (7.1%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Brierfield Rail Station, about 740 metres away (roughly a 9-minute walk).

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mansfield Crescent (by), 230 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 210 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy issued 6 suspensions, 4.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Marsden Heights Community College (0.3 miles) and Sir John Thursby Community College (1.4 miles).