Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School, PRESTON

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 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 work closely with families to address the underlying issues that stop pupils coming into school."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have improved the curriculum since the previous inspection by including clear end points."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders include and welcome everyone at the school."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have a clear and accurate understanding of the school's strengths."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have skilfully implemented a well-thought-out personal development and wellbeing programme for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, by the end of Year 6, pupils' attainment in reading, writing and mathematics has been below the national average."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff understand and teach the school's new writing curriculum consistently so that pupils achieve the standards expected of them at the end of their time at the school"; "Leaders should continue to ensure that pupils' historic gaps in knowledge in mathematics and writing are secured to enable pupils to achieve better and improve attainment for pupils at the end of Year 6"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers provide pupils with the resources they need to tackle new concepts in mathematics successfully".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Our school serves the children, families and community within Ribbleton and the surrounding area. As a culturally rich and diverse school, we are fully committed to meeting the needs of our school community. We are blessed with caring teachers and staff who work hard to make our school the very best it can be."

The school runs a breakfast club.

In 2025, 70% of Year 6 pupils at Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School reached the expected standard in reading and 58% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (66% in reading, 57% in maths).

Across Lancashire, 91% of families were offered their first-choice primary school for 2026 entry, and 98% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Lancashire lodged 425 appeals against primary school offers; 259 reached a hearing and 71 succeeded (27.4% of those heard).

The nearest other state primary schools to Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School are Ribbleton Avenue Infant School (under 0.1 miles, Outstanding); St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Preston (0.3 miles, 80% reading, 82% maths); St Matthew's Church of England Primary Academy (0.4 miles, 68% reading, 67% maths); and St Gregory's Catholic Primary School, Preston (0.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 90% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School.

40.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 59.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (53%), White British (27%) and Mixed (7%).

The nearest railway station is Preston Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Acregate Lane (opposite), 60 metres away.

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

In August 2026, police recorded 509 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School issued 21 suspensions, 7.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School are Preston Muslim Girls High School (0.5 miles); Moor Park High School (0.7 miles); and Eden Boys' School, Preston (0.8 miles).