St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Accrington

Ofsted's report card from its 24 March 2026 inspection grades St Nicholas 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. "From the early years onwards, pupils, including those who face barriers to learning, secure basic skills in communication, reading, writing and mathematics."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders take a proactive approach to attendance, working closely with families to identify and address barriers."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum is embedded across the school."

Early years - Expected standard. "Leaders have successfully driven improvements in both the learning environment and the curriculum in the early years."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders show unwavering commitment to inclusion."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders are determined that the school's socioeconomic context does not limit pupils' aspirations."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders provide a coherent and well‑designed programme of personal development."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should support staff to consistently make highly effective decisions about how to teach the curriculum, ensuring that tasks are designed to fully engage pupils and maximise their learning"; "Leaders should ensure that the curriculum is consistently taught well across all key stages to maximise learning opportunities, particularly for pupils with higher prior attainment".

In 2025, 68% of Year 6 pupils at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 82% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 75% and 74% in Lancashire and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 67% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.

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

For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St Nicholas Church of England Primary School as their first choice and 52 named it as one of their preferences, for 23 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 Nicholas Church of England Primary School are Accrington Hyndburn Park Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 57% reading, 52% maths); Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School, Church (0.4 miles, Requires improvement, 65% reading, 75% maths); Accrington St Mary Magdalen's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths); and Accrington Spring Hill Community Primary School (0.9 miles, Requires improvement, 40% reading, 50% maths).

St Nicholas Church of England Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

27 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about St Nicholas Church of England Primary School (as of April 2026): 82% would recommend the school, 78% say their child is happy there and 40% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (82%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (40%).

The nearest railway station is Church & Oswaldtwistle Rail Station, about 1060 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

13 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is St Nicholas Road (by), 70 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Nicholas Church of England Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 384 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.

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

The secondary schools closest to St Nicholas Church of England Primary School are Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School (0.3 miles); Accrington Academy (0.5 miles); Rhyddings (1 mile); and Mount Carmel Roman Catholic High School, Hyndburn (1 mile).