Waterloo Primary Academy, Blackpool
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Waterloo Primary Academy excels at creating a calm, happy place where children feel they belong. The school has transformed behaviour and attendance through consistent, caring relationships between staff and pupils. With a strong focus on phonics, reading, and basic skills alongside rich enrichment activities, children leave well-prepared for their next stage of learning.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective behaviour strategy that has transformed school culture - pupils are kind, polite and respectful
- Excellent early years provision with strong focus on communication skills, phonics and love of reading
- Inclusive approach supporting pupils with SEND and disadvantaged pupils to achieve well
- Rich, engaging curriculum with quality texts and well-trained staff
- Strong pastoral support and mental health focus that helps pupils feel safe and valued
Areas for Improvement
- Learning is not consistently matched to some pupils' needs - gaps and misconceptions sometimes go unchecked in lessons
- Some older pupils have legacy knowledge gaps from before recent improvements
- Small number of pupils still miss too many school days, affecting their learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have established an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, concerns are actively identified and acted upon, and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Theatre visits, museum trips, residential experiences, sports clubs, crafts, musical opportunities, first-aid training, boxing, play leadership roles, eco warriors, head pupils, sports leaders
Waterloo Primary Academy is a welcoming school where pupils enjoy learning, behave well, and make good progress across the curriculum. Leaders have successfully transformed the school's culture with a focus on basic skills, inclusion, and pupil wellbeing.
At a Glance
57.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 78% to 82%. Maths has improved from 73% to 85%. Writing has improved from 63% to 71%.
Class Sizes
27.7
Avg class size
25.8
Infant (KS1)
28.3
KS2
22
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
600 pupils
656 capacity
56 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Blackpool
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Blackpool
Admissions Demand - Blackpool
Places available
1,670
Applications
1,299
Got 1st preference
93.5%
Got preferred school
97.7%
Primary admissions across Blackpool (2025/26)
Inspection History(105)
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
7.12805%
Overall absence
25.0478%
Persistent absence
523
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
Waterloo Primary Academy
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