St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School, Burnley

Ofsted's report card from its 14 April 2026 inspection grades St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School on 7 areas: 7 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils achieve well overall."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise attendance and communicate high expectations across the school community."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders have planned a sequence of learning that is appropriate for the school's mixed‑age classes and enables pupils to build knowledge step by step."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise the early years as the foundation for children's learning and achievement."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify and assess pupils' needs with precision."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders know their school community well."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have set out a coherent approach to pupils' personal development and wellbeing."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that assessment is used consistently and effectively to further secure pupils' foundational knowledge by addressing misconceptions promptly, so that pupils build understanding securely"; "Leaders should ensure that learning activities across the curriculum, including in the early years, are matched to pupils' prior knowledge so that all pupils are supported to achieve well over time, including at the higher standard"; "Leaders and governors should further refine their analysis of the impact of their actions on pupils' outcomes. They should use this information to assess whether improvements are having the intended effect and to make timely adjustments where necessary".

From the headteacher's welcome: "I would like to give you a warm welcome to St. James’ Lanehead Church of England Primary School. St James’ Lanehead is a Church school with a big heart and a passion for its community. At St. James’ Lanehead we all pride ourselves on acting with dignity and integrity. We know every child personally and value them all as individuals."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, athletics, choir, Lego and cooking.

In 2025, 65% of Year 6 pupils at St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 60% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 79% in reading and 67% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 36 families put St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 87 named it as one of their preferences, for 40 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 St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School are St John the Baptist RC Primary School, a Voluntary Academy (0.4 miles, 72% reading, 69% maths); Casterton Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 86% reading, 74% maths); Reedley Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 72% reading, 72% maths); and Briercliffe Primary School (0.8 miles, Requires improvement, 74% reading, 79% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School.

14 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 100% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that their child is happy at the school (100%).

In 2026, 40 pupils (14.3%) received SEN support and 6 (2.2%) 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.

St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School had 11 teachers in 2026, one for every 25 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

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

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St James School (opposite), 50 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 176 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Lancashire (109), as is usual near a town centre.

St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to St James' Lanehead Church of England Primary School are Sir John Thursby Community College (0.4 miles); Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic College, A Voluntary Academy (1.2 miles); and Marsden Heights Community College (1.2 miles).