Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Burnley
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in Burnley, part of Cidari Education Limited. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 33 schools in Burnley with published results, and 1st of 14,452 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Lancashire (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School in detail
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School in its own words
From the headteacher's welcome: "St Mary's CE Primary Academy is a successful small school, attended by 53 pupils from the village of Newchurch and the surrounding area. We are a continually improving school, always striving to provide the very best education and opportunities for all our children within a happy, caring, and supportive environment."
The school runs after-school care.
Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 100% of Year 6 pupils at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 100% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 67% in reading and 33% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 8 families put Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 19 named it as one of their preferences, for 8 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School are Roughlee Church of England Primary School (1 mile, Good, 100% reading, 100% maths); Wheatley Lane Methodist Primary School (1.2 miles, 86% reading, 90% maths); Barrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, 100% reading, 88% maths); and Higham St John's Church of England Primary School (1.9 miles, Good, 76% reading, 82% maths).
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Roughlee Church of England Primary SchoolWheatley Lane Methodist Primary SchoolBarrowford St Thomas Church of England Primary SchoolHigham St John's Church of England Primary School
The trust
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is one of 15 schools run by Cidari Education Limited, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 49% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
38 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School (as of September 2025): 95% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (100%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (83%).
Who goes there
13.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 13 pupils (24.5%) received SEN support and 1 (1.9%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Brierfield Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Witches Galore (opposite), 70 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 0 crimes within a mile of the school. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109).
Suspensions and exclusions
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; Ofsted Parent View; 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
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This school provides a nurturing, family-like environment where all children feel valued and safe. Staff have high expectations and are skilled at supporting each pupil individually, including those with additional needs. Pupils develop strong character through excellent teaching, meaningful leadership roles, and a rich range of learning experiences that prepare them well for life beyond the classroom.
Key Strengths
- Strong, supportive relationships between staff and pupils create a calm, safe learning environment
- Excellent focus on reading with high-quality books and effective phonics teaching
- Pupils with SEND are identified early and receive skilled, tailored support to access the full curriculum
- High-quality staff training ensures confident curriculum delivery across all year groups
- Exceptional personal development through sports, clubs, and learning about respectful relationships and diverse cultures
Areas for Improvement
- Assessment methods do not consistently identify and correct misconceptions in some subjects
- When misunderstandings are not addressed, pupils develop gaps that make it harder to build on prior learning
- More effective strategies needed to check pupil understanding across all subjects and year groups
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong systems and a positive school culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Gardening club, athletics club, sports competitions, author visits, aspirations day, joint activities with neighbouring village school
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. Pupils thrive in a safe, nurturing family-like environment where they approach learning with enthusiasm and exemplary behaviour.
At a Glance
13.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
38 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 67% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 33% to 100% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 78% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
7.6
Avg class size
7.3
Infant (KS1)
7.8
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Week Commencing 20.07.26
20 Jul 2026
Week Commencing 13.07.26
13 Jul 2026
Week Commencing 06.07.26
6 Jul 2026
Week Commencing 29.06.26
29 Jun 2026
Week Commencing 22.06.26
22 Jun 2026
Week Commencing 15.06.26
15 Jun 2026
From Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
Term dates
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is an academy, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Lancashire's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
You apply to the council where you live. Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is in Lancashire; for families living there:
- Lancashire's school travel policy: school transport policies
- How to apply: Apply for free home to school transport assistance
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 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 Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
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Your home postcode, set against Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School.
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- Applications, first choices and offers at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School for 2017 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Lancashire 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.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
98%
Near capacity
55 pupils
56 places
1 spare place in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Burnley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Burnley
Across Lancashire council
Places available
15,442
Applications
12,122
Got 1st preference
91.3%
Got preferred school
98.3%
All primary applications across Lancashire council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
13
SEN Support
1
EHC Plans
26.4%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
53
Total Pupils
25
Boys
28
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
17.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£52,079
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,356
Per pupil
£452k
Total funding
£14k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.9%
Overall absence
2.0%
Persistent absence
49
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School
What are SATs results like at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Of the pupils at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 100% reached the expected standard in reading and 100% did so in maths.
What is Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Classes at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School average 7.6 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School has around 53 pupils on roll. 13% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
2.9% of sessions were missed at Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School in 2024/25. 2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England 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 Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School?
Newchurch-In-Pendle St Mary's Church of England Primary School is at Spenbrook Road, Newchurch-in-Pendle, Burnley, Lancashire, BB12 9JP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)