Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy, Colne
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 5 to 11 in Colne, part of Romero Catholic Academy Trust. It has a Roman Catholic religious character. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the highest of the 9 schools in Colne with published results, and 1,757th of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 104% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy in detail
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "You can click on the link below to take a virtual tour of the school Sacred Heart School is situated on the edge of Colne and is within easy access of Foulridge, Barrowford, Trawden and Blacko."
From the headteacher's welcome: "On behalf of all the staff, children, parents and governors I would like to warmly welcome you to Sacred Heart RC Primary School. Sacred Heart School is situated on the edge of Colne and is within easy access of Foulridge, Barrowford and Blacko."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis, athletics, basketball, badminton and swimming.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 91% of Year 6 pupils at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 88% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 81% in reading and 88% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 34 families put Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 110 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 5 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Foulridge Saint Michael and All Angels CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 63% reading, 70% maths); Colne Lord Street School (0.7 miles, Good, 79% reading, 66% maths); West Street Community Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 62% reading, 62% maths); and Park Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 70% reading, 72% maths).
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Foulridge Saint Michael and All Angels CofE Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolColne Lord Street SchoolWest Street Community Primary SchoolPark Primary School
The trust
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is one of 18 schools run by Romero Catholic Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 56% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
What parents say
30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (as of September 2025): 97% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 67% 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) (67%).
Who goes there
11.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 8.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 25 pupils (11.6%) received SEN support and 14 (6.5%) 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.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Colne Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Red Lane (by), 170 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy issued 10 suspensions, 4.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy are Colne Park High School (0.7 miles) and Colne Primet Academy (1.3 miles).
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); DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Colne (URN 119653), it was rated Good in December 2012.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
This is a warm, welcoming school where pupils are polite, respectful and display positive attitudes to learning. Reading is celebrated throughout the school, with pupils enjoying carefully chosen texts and learning phonics effectively. The school goes above and beyond with an incredibly impressive range of sports, clubs and enrichment activities that develop pupils' talents and boost their confidence.
Key Strengths
- Thoughtfully designed curriculum that fosters a love of learning, with pupils achieving well in reading, writing and mathematics
- Reading is at the heart of the school - pupils read carefully chosen texts, enjoy reading for pleasure, and staff deliver phonics effectively
- Excellent support for pupils with SEND, with teachers adapting learning and providing extra resources to help them access the full curriculum
- Broad and impressive sport and active learning offer that excites pupils and develops their talents
- Strong focus on pupils' attendance with well-coordinated strategies that have had markedly positive impact
Areas for Improvement
- Some teaching activities in a couple of subjects do not help pupils learn the intended curriculum as well as they could, affecting how deeply some pupils build their knowledge
- Errors in letter formation are not consistently identified and addressed early enough, meaning some pupils do not develop writing fluency as quickly as they could
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders creating an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Badminton, fishing, environmental group, after-school clubs, annual summer project, leadership roles, activities and visits connecting with learning
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School is a happy place where pupils live out the school's mission to 'let your light shine!' and achieve well across their learning. The school has maintained the good standards from its previous inspection through effective action and strong leadership.
At a Glance
11.6%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
30 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 81% to 91% (2024 to 2025). Maths has remained stable at around 88% (2024 to 2025). Writing has declined from 88% to 81% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
30.9
Avg class size
30.0
Infant (KS1)
31.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Term dates
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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)
- Collisions
- 10
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 2
- Children hurt
- 1
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight.
1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt.
1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
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 Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
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- Applications, first choices and offers at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy for 2023 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
104%
Over capacity
218 pupils
210 places
8 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Colne
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Colne
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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
25
SEN Support
14
EHC Plans
18.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
216
Total Pupils
113
Boys
103
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
10
Teachers
21.6:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£38,675
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,073
Per pupil
£1200k
Total funding
£29k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
2.8%
Overall absence
3.7%
Persistent absence
188
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
Questions parents ask about Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy
What are SATs results like at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Of the pupils at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 91% reached the expected standard in reading and 88% did so in maths.
What is Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has had no graded Ofsted inspection since it took its current form in September 2022. Before that, as Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Colne (URN 119653), it was rated Good in December 2012.
What is the catchment area for Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is oversubscribed, Lancashire allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy was full in 2025, at 104% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Classes at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy average 30.9 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy has around 216 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
2.8% of sessions were missed at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy in 2024/25. 3.7% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Apply through Lancashire's coordinated admissions process, naming Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy 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 Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 10 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 2 serious and 8 slight. 1 child aged 0 to 15 was hurt. 1 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Lancashire is 12 (the median across 707 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy?
Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, a Voluntary Academy is at Red Lane, Colne, Lancashire, BB8 7JR.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)