St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy, Nelson

Ofsted's report card from its 21 April 2026 inspection grades St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy on 7 areas: 5 expected standard and 2 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 have made improving pupils' attendance rates a top priority."

Early years - Expected standard. "Children in the early years enjoy warm and nurturing relationships with staff."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Pupils with additional needs are valued members of this school community."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Pupils' best interests lie at the heart of leaders' decision-making."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders have implemented a well-designed programme to enhance pupils' personal development."

Achievement - Needs attention. "Over time, in national assessments at the end of Year 6, some pupils do not achieve as well as they should."

Curriculum and teaching - Needs attention. "Some pupils do not receive effective-enough support to help them develop fluency in reading, writing and mathematics skills."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that staff deliver the curriculum consistently well, particularly in reading, writing and mathematics, in order to build on current developments to improve the quality of pupils' learning"; "Leaders should ensure that any knowledge and skills gaps in pupils' reading, writing and mathematics are rapidly addressed to enable pupils to achieve well"; "Leaders should ensure that staff check pupils' understanding consistently and regularly, in order to help pupils to deepen their knowledge across all subjects".

From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome and thank you for taking the time to find out more about our school. I am extremely proud of our school and all that it stands for. We aim to provide an inspiring and stimulating learning environment for all our children."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, chess, STEM, eco club and forest school.

The school runs a breakfast club from 7:30am and after-school care.

In 2025, 33% of Year 6 pupils at St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 48% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results fell from 52% in reading and 45% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 24 families put St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy as their first choice and 104 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy are Marsden Community Primary School (0.2 miles, Good, 67% reading, 82% maths); Whitefield Infant School and Nursery (0.3 miles, Outstanding); Nelson St Paul's Church of England Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 77% reading, 82% maths); and Lomeshaye Junior School (0.4 miles, Good, 88% reading, 95% maths).

Each of them had higher 2025 results than St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy.

St John Southworth RC 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.

35.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 57.4% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Asian (60%), White British (15%) and Mixed (6%).

In 2026, 20 pupils (9.6%) received SEN support and 15 (7.2%) 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 John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy had 8 teachers in 2026, one for every 27 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.

The nearest railway station is Nelson Rail Station, about 430 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).

17 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Lancaster Gate (by), 110 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 349 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, St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy issued 3 suspensions, 1.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The secondary schools closest to St John Southworth RC Primary School, A Voluntary Academy are Marsden Heights Community College (0.4 miles) and Pendle Vale College (1.2 miles).