Longshaw Infant School, Blackburn

Ofsted's report card from its 6 January 2026 inspection grades Longshaw Infant School on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders and staff know pupils extremely well."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Many children have already experienced a range of disadvantages by the time that they join the Reception class."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear understanding of the reasons for pupils' absence from school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils benefit from a broad, balanced and carefully ordered curriculum."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years feel safe and secure as a result of the warm and supportive care that they receive from staff."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and governors use a range of information to evaluate the school's strengths and to identify where it can improve further."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils are provided with age-appropriate opportunities to develop awareness of their own beliefs as well as those of others."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that all staff consistently select and design activities that help pupils to learn and remember intended knowledge securely. • Leaders should ensure that when pupils are asked for their views and opinions about school life, they have the time to think and reflect before responding, so that they can practise using their oracy skills to express their thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly".

For September 2026 entry, 70 families put Longshaw Infant School as their first choice and 112 named it as one of their preferences, for 74 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 Longshaw Infant School are Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Roman Catholic Primary School Blackburn (0.2 miles, Good, 79% reading, 89% maths); Longshaw Community Junior School (0.4 miles, Good, 77% reading, 78% maths); Blackburn the Redeemer CofE Primary (0.4 miles, Outstanding, 88% reading, 90% maths); and Lower Darwen Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 58% reading, 53% maths).

42.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (17.2%) received SEN support and 13 (6.4%) 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 Mill Hill (Lancs) Rail Station, about 1 mile away in a straight line.

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lomgshaw Infant School (by), 90 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Longshaw Infant School stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Longshaw Infant School issued 8 suspensions, 3.7 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Longshaw Infant School are Blackburn Central High School (0.9 miles); Darwen Vale High School (1 mile); and St Bede's Roman Catholic High School, Blackburn (1.4 miles).