Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church, Accrington

In its own words: "Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School and Nursery is a happy, welcoming and inclusive Catholic school where every child is known, valued and encouraged to flourish. is at the heart of our school community. It shapes the way we learn, pray, worship, behave, care for one another and serve our community."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is my great privilege to welcome you to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Accrington . At Sacred Heart, our mission, “Let the love of Christ show in all that we do,” is at the heart of our school."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care.

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church reached the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 46% in reading and 46% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 23 families put Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church as their first choice and 62 named it as one of their preferences, for 24 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 Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church are Accrington Hyndburn Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 57% reading, 52% maths); St Nicholas Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 82% maths); Oswaldtwistle St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 81% maths); and Accrington Spring Hill Community Primary School (0.6 miles, Requires improvement, 40% reading, 50% maths).

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church's 2025 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

18 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church (as of September 2025): 72% would recommend the school, 83% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (83%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).

40.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 46.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (42%), White British (35%) and Mixed (6%).

Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church had 7 teachers in 2026, one for every 24 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Church & Oswaldtwistle Rail Station, about 440 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barnes Street (opposite), 100 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 3rd decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 461 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church issued 45 suspensions, 22.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church are Rhyddings (0.6 miles); Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School (0.7 miles); Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, Hyndburn (0.7 miles); and Accrington Academy (0.8 miles).