St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, Nelson
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 5 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
St John Southworth creates a family atmosphere where pupils feel genuinely happy, safe and cared for. The school excels at supporting children with additional needs and disadvantaged pupils, giving them the same opportunities and outcomes as their peers. Staff are dedicated to helping every child succeed, with a broad curriculum that brings learning to life through visits, visitors and outdoor activities like pond dipping.
Key Strengths
- Safeguarding is effective with a strong culture where staff and pupils take responsibility for keeping everyone safe
- Excellent attendance rates and behaviour, with bullying being rare and pupils treating each other with respect
- Warm, nurturing environment where children quickly grow in confidence and develop well
- Well-designed personal development programme with extra-curricular clubs available to all pupils
- Strong leadership focused on removing barriers to learning and improving outcomes for disadvantaged pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Some pupils have gaps in basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics that persist despite curriculum improvements
- Some teachers do not consistently check that pupils understand important vocabulary and concepts over time
- Some pupils in Year 6 national assessments do not achieve as well as they should due to weak prior learning
- Need to ensure all pupils can use subject-specific vocabulary confidently across the curriculum
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Lunchtime clubs, after-school clubs, pond dipping activities, trips, residential visits, school council, science ambassadors, science fair, visits from police and fire service
St John Southworth RC Primary School is a friendly, welcoming school where pupils feel safe and happy. While the school has made strong improvements in curriculum and attendance, some pupils still struggle with basic skills in reading, writing and mathematics.
At a Glance
35.9%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has declined from 52% to 33%. Maths has remained stable at around 48%. Writing has remained stable at around 55%.
Class Sizes
30.3
Avg class size
29.0
Infant (KS1)
31.3
KS2
7
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
100%
Over capacity
209 pupils
210 capacity
1 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Nelson
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Nelson
Admissions Demand - Lancashire
Places available
15,664
Applications
12,136
Got 1st preference
93.0%
Got preferred school
98.8%
Primary admissions across Lancashire (2025/26)
Inspection History(2)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.74468%
Overall absence
15.46392%
Persistent absence
194
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy
Nearby Schools
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