Larkfield Primary School, Southport
Larkfield Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Southport. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in June 2023. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 12th-highest of the 19 schools in Southport with published results, and 11,322nd of 14,452 across England. It was 83% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2023)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Sefton (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Larkfield Primary School in detail
Larkfield Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "We promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs through a variety of approaches: "For all our children to enjoy successful learning in a safe and happy environment""
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, tennis, athletics, gymnastics, basketball, swimming and dance.
The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Larkfield Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 68% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Sefton and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 73% in reading and 68% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Larkfield Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 26 families put Larkfield Primary School as their first choice and 90 named it as one of their preferences, for 26 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Larkfield Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Larkfield Primary School are Churchtown Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 67% reading, 65% maths); St Patrick's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); Marshside Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 59% maths); and St John's Church of England Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 65% reading, 73% maths).
Larkfield Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.
Churchtown Primary SchoolSt Patrick's Catholic Primary SchoolMarshside Primary SchoolSt John's Church of England Primary School
Who goes there
11.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (88%) and other ethnic groups (6%).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Meols Cop Rail Station, about 1.4 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Larkfield Primary School (opposite), 90 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 60 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and criminal damage and arson. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Sefton (165).
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Larkfield Primary School issued 2 suspensions, 0.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Larkfield Primary School creates a welcoming, inclusive environment where all children feel safe and valued. The school has made reading a priority with excellent phonics teaching, and staff provide strong support for children with additional needs. With a focus on mental health and positive behaviour, your child will develop into a confident, well-rounded learner.
Key Strengths
- Strong focus on reading with effective phonics teaching and comprehensive staff training - pupils in early years and key stage 1 gain secure phonics knowledge
- Effective support for pupils with SEND, including strong communication and language focus in Reception Year
- Positive school culture built on mental health awareness - pupils feel included, safe, and confident to be themselves
- Swift action against bullying and misbehaviour ensures pupils feel safe
- Rich enrichment opportunities including clubs, visits, and projects to develop pupils' personal development and citizenship
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils in Year 2 and Year 3 have gaps in reading knowledge and do not read with confidence - need targeted support to catch up
- In some subjects, learning tasks do not match the intended curriculum well enough, causing pupils to miss essential knowledge
- High rates of persistent absenteeism mean many pupils miss out on learning and develop knowledge gaps
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with comprehensive staff training, clear systems to identify at-risk pupils, awareness of local risks reflected in the curriculum, and strong engagement with external agencies.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, structured life skills activities, charity fundraisers, school visits, projects for personal development enrichment
Larkfield Primary School is a good school where pupils are enthusiastic, happy, and ready to learn in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Leaders have introduced a well-thought-out curriculum with reading at its heart, and pupils have positive attitudes to learning.
At a Glance
20.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 73% to 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 68% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 59% to 71% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
25.8
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
27.8
KS2
9
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Larkfield Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Larkfield Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Larkfield Primary School is in Sefton; for families living there:
- Sefton's school travel policy: Home to School Transport Policy ext
- How to apply: Apply for Travel Support
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 20
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at Larkfield Primary School
Will you get a place at Larkfield Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Larkfield Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Larkfield Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Larkfield Primary School.
- Sefton publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Larkfield Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Larkfield Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Sefton got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
83%
Available places
263 pupils
315 places
52 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Southport
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Southport
Across Sefton council
Places available
3,080
Applications
2,586
Got 1st preference
91.4%
Got preferred school
98.6%
All primary applications across Sefton council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(8)
Ungraded inspection: The school remains Good, but Ofsted raised concerns; its next inspection will be a full graded one.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
54
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
24.2%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
256
Total Pupils
123
Boys
133
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
16.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,716
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,340
Per pupil
£1548k
Total funding
£86k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.6%
Overall absence
13.0%
Persistent absence
239
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Larkfield Primary School
Questions parents ask about Larkfield Primary School
What are SATs results like at Larkfield Primary School?
Of the pupils at Larkfield Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 68% did so in maths.
What is Larkfield Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Larkfield Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in June 2023.
What is the catchment area for Larkfield Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Larkfield Primary School is oversubscribed, Sefton allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Larkfield Primary School?
Larkfield Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 83% of its 315 places.
How big are the classes at Larkfield Primary School?
Classes at Larkfield Primary School average 25.8 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Larkfield Primary School?
Larkfield Primary School has around 256 pupils on roll. 20% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Larkfield Primary School?
5.6% of sessions were missed at Larkfield Primary School in 2024/25. 13% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Larkfield Primary School?
Apply through Sefton's coordinated admissions process, naming Larkfield Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Larkfield Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 4 serious and 16 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Sefton is 16 (the median across 116 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Larkfield Primary School?
Larkfield Primary School is at Preston New Road, Southport, Merseyside, PR9 8PA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)