Penwortham Primary School, Preston

Ofsted's report card from its 6 May 2026 inspection grades Penwortham Primary School on 7 areas: 4 expected standard and 3 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders have focused on improving pupils' rates of attendance."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have successfully developed the curriculum in the early years since the previous inspection."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders at all levels have a clear understanding of the strengths of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The school's personal development programme is effective."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities often do not achieve as well as they could across the curriculum."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Leaders make clear what pupils should learn and the order that learning should occur."

Inclusion - Needs attention. "Leaders welcome all pupils at the school, no matter what difficulties they face."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that teachers identify and address gaps in pupils' knowledge so that they are fully prepared for their next stages of education"; "Leaders should make sure that all pupils achieve the highest standards that they are capable of across the curriculum. This is particularly important for disadvantaged pupils and for those with special educational needs and/or disabilities"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' additional needs are identified accurately and in a timely fashion so that teachers know how best to help them"; "Leaders should make sure that the checks that they carry out on the effectiveness of the curriculum and support for pupils are rigorous and make clear where improvements need to be made".

In its own words: "Choosing a school is a big decision - we'd love to welcome you to ours. 💙 Come and see Penwortham Primary School in action and discover what makes our happy, high-achieving school so special."

The school runs after-school care.

Coming up: an open day on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 1.30pm and an open day on Friday 8 January 2027 at 9.15am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at Penwortham Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 71% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 87% in reading and 83% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 19 families put Penwortham Primary School as their first choice and 58 named it as one of their preferences, for 21 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 Penwortham Primary School are Penwortham, St Teresa's Catholic Primary School (under 0.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 84% maths); Whitefield Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 70% reading, 72% maths); Cop Lane Church of England Primary School, Penwortham (0.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 76% maths); and Howick Church Endowed Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 87% reading, 93% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Penwortham Primary School.

10% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (77%), Asian (9%) and Mixed (7%).

In 2026, 34 pupils (16.9%) received SEN support and 1 (0.5%) 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.

Penwortham Primary School had 12 teachers in 2026, one for every 16 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Priory Tech College (by), 160 metres away.

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

In 2024/25, Penwortham Primary School issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Penwortham Primary School are Penwortham Priory Academy (0.1 miles), Penwortham Girls' High School (0.5 miles), All Hallows Catholic High School (0.8 miles) and Ashton Community Science College (1.5 miles).