Waterloo Primary Academy, Blackpool

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Waterloo Primary Academy on 7 areas: 1 strong standard and 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Early years - Strong standard. "Leadership in the early years is highly effective."

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils typically achieve well across the curriculum and in national tests."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders make sure that there is an unwavering focus on pupils learning the basic skills that they need to succeed."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders have created a culture that welcomes and supports pupils to succeed."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have an accurate understanding of the context of the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Pupils' wellbeing and development beyond the academic are key priorities for leaders."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should further support teachers to adapt learning, so that tasks consistently match pupils' learning needs and starting points"; "Leaders should ensure that pupils' gaps and misconceptions in learning are addressed swiftly in lessons, so that pupils are supported to achieve all that they can"; "Leaders should further support pupils' regular attendance, so that the proportion of pupils who are persistently absent further reduces".

In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Waterloo Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 85% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 72% and 70% in Blackpool and 77% and 75% across England.

Results rose from 78% in reading and 73% in maths in 2024.

For September 2026 entry, 51 families put Waterloo Primary Academy as their first choice and 90 named it as one of their preferences, for 52 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 Waterloo Primary Academy are St John Vianney's Catholic Primary School, Blackpool (0.4 miles, 87% reading, 89% maths); St Cuthbert's Catholic Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); Baines' Endowed Church of England Primary Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 69% reading, 72% maths); and Blackpool Gateway Academy (0.5 miles, Good, 51% reading, 53% maths).

Waterloo Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.

Waterloo Primary Academy is run by its own single-school academy trust.

57% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

The nearest railway station is Blackpool South Rail Station, about 890 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).

14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Waterloo School (by), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Waterloo Primary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 764 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 Blackpool (336), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Waterloo Primary Academy issued 33 suspensions, 5.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The secondary schools closest to Waterloo Primary Academy are South Shore Academy (0.5 miles), St George's School A Church of England Academy (0.9 miles), Armfield Academy (0.9 miles) and Highfield Leadership Academy (0.9 miles).