Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School, Rossendale

In 2025, 60% of Year 6 pupils at Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 40% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 36% in reading and 12% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 9 families put Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School as their first choice and 17 named it as one of their preferences, for 11 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 Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School are St James-the-Less Roman Catholic Primary School, Rawtenstall (0.8 miles, Good, 81% reading, 88% maths); St Mary's CofE Primary School Rawtenstall (0.8 miles, Good, 67% reading, 71% maths); Rawtenstall St Paul's Church of England Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 64% reading, 51% maths); and Haslingden Broadway Primary School (1.2 miles, Outstanding, 69% reading, 59% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School.

16 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School (as of September 2025): 50% would recommend the school, 63% say their child is happy there and 18% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child is happy at the school (63%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (18%).

44% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (80%) and Mixed (11%).

In 2026, 16 pupils (14.7%) received SEN support and 3 (2.8%) 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 autism.

The nearest tram or metro stop is Rawtenstall (East Lancashire Railway), about 640 metres away (roughly a 8-minute walk).

11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chestnut Drive (by), 150 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School issued 12 suspensions, 10 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Rawtenstall Balladen Community Primary School are All Saints' Roman Catholic High School, a Voluntary Academy (0.8 miles); Alder Grange School (1.1 miles); Haslingden High School and Sixth Form (1.3 miles); and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School (1.7 miles).